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Château Brane-Cantenac Grand Cru Classé Margaux 2016

Reviews

98 -Jeb Dunnuck -

A brilliant, reference point level wine from this château, the 2016 Château Brane-Cantenac sports a deep purple hue as well as sensational notes of cassis, currants, iron, lead pencil, sappy tobacco, and leafy herbs. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenère and aged 18 months in 70% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, integrated tannins, and just about flawless balance. It checks in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.57. Don't miss this stunning 2016. I'd be happy with cases in the cellar. Hide bottles for another 3-5 years and it will see its 50th birthday in fine form. Drink 2029-2076. The 2016 was harvested from September 22 to October 17, hitting 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.57.

97 -Jane Anson -

Full sweet spot Brane Cantenac, not tasting quite as luscious as during the recent vertical at the estate, with the austerity more evident in the tannins, but come on, this is still hard to argue with, full of character and sap and vivid life, cocoa bean, brambled autumnal fruit, cola, crushed rocks and crayons. 70% new oak barrels. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

96-98 -Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -

The 2016 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere picked from 22 September until 17 October (the tiny parcel of Carmenere picked three days later). The yields came in at 51 hectoliters per hectare and it is matured in 75% new oak and 25% one-year-old barrels, the final alcohol level 13.3%. It has a beautifully defined, very detailed bouquet with mineral-rich black fruit laced with cedar and graphite notes, living up to its nom de plume as the Pauillac of Margaux. The palate is simply the best that I have ever tasted at the estate, without question. This has presence, but also weightlessness, filigree tannin and perfectly pitched acidity, with real intensity and drive. The tension here is outstanding and the persistence is incredibly long. It is not the showiest of all the 2016s by a long stretch, and yet it is everything you could possibly want from a Margaux. Like Beychevelle this year, the 2016 Brane-Cantenac puts recent vintages in the shade, thanks not only to the growing season, but also a new punching down system in their gravity-fed winery that was completed in 2015. The 2016 is a benchmark against which future vintages will be compared.

96 -Vinous -

The 2016 Brane-Cantenac has the most extravagant bouquet by far, with vivacious black and blue fruit, bunches of violet, potpourri and heather. Beautiful definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation, quite sapid in style, not as luxuriant as the nose, and the finish seems to have clammed up at the moment. But just give this time. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

96 -James Suckling -

96 -Decanter -

95 -Wine Enthusiast -

95 -Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider -

Still dark in color, the wine is clearly powerful, with notes of black tea, flowers, dark Cuban cigars, and black cherries. Balanced, fresh, harmonious, long, and rich, there is lift, energy, length, intensity, and purity with a chalky edge to the finish. This is not a wine for today, you need some patience before it shows really well. If you are not familiar with the level of wine coming from Brane Cantenac these days, you should be. Drink from 2030-2060.

94 -Falstaff -

Deep dark ruby, opaque at the core with a discreet brightening on the rim. There are delicate floral aromas in the background to the ripe sweet cherry, blackberry jam and subtle fine oak nuances. Juicy, elegant and fruity with well-integrated tannins and red berry flavours, the wine is minerally and fresh on the palate with a lingering finish and the potential to age well.

94 -The Wine Independent -

92 -Wine Review Online -

The 2016 Baron de Brane is an intriguing blend of 65% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc. This is the second wine of Château Brane Cantenac, a Second Growth in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855. The name honors Baron Hector de Brane, who owned the estate in the 19th century. Blended from vats carefully selected for their suppleness, it is aged just like the First Wine but for a 12-month period. It exudes lilac, plum, bay leaf, and black tea aromas over a core of warm red currants and ripe black cherries infused with cedar and a swirl of cinnamon. Lovely depth and succulence complement the freshness, fine-grained tannin, and persistent aromatic finish.

90-93 -Wine Spectator -

Technical Details

Blend 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère
Winemaker Henri Lurton
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub Region Left Bank
Appellation Margaux
Vineyard Estate vineyards of Château Brane-Cantenac, Second-Growth (2ème Grand Cru Classé)
Farming Method Sustainable Practices
Oak 70% new French oak
Aging / Cooperage 18 months
Alcohol 13.5%

Château Brane-Cantenac Grand Cru Classé Margaux 2016

Name: Château Brane-Cantenac Grand Cru Classé Margaux 2016
Brand: First Bottle
SKU: 1014749
Price: 99.95 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Bordeaux Blends | Bordeaux

JD98, JA97, WA96-98, VN96, JS96, DC96, WE95, JL95, FS94, TWI94, WRO92, WS90-93

Sustainable Practices

$165.00

$99.95

750ML

39% OFF RETAIL!

The 2016 Brane-Cantenac is a showstopper: Jeb Dunnuck awarded it 98 points and Decanter followed at 96, and the estate has never looked more focused or more serious. Margaux's perfumed elegance is here in abundance with silky tannins, dark berry, rose petal, and a long ethereal finish that just keeps going. One of the most exciting Margaux properties in the appellation right now, caught at a brilliant vintage.

About The Producer

Long considered an underperformer relative to its Second Growth pedigree, Brane-Cantenac has quietly engineered one of the more compelling quality revivals in Margaux. The estate's origins stretch back to the early 18th century, but it was Baron Hector de Brane — the self-styled "Napoleon of the Vines" — who gave it its name and its reputation in the 19th century, reportedly selling off what would become Château Mouton Rothschild to finance his ambitions here. The Lurton family has owned the estate since the 1920s, and since Henri Lurton took over in 1992, he has poured energy into understanding and mapping the plateau de Brane's distinctive gravel terroir. The recent vintages, particularly 2015, 2018, and 2020, show a weight and aromatic precision that have finally caught up with the address — elegant, floral Margaux with real depth, worth seeking out at a price well below its classified peers.

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