Château Brane Cantenac, 2ème Cru Classé, Margaux, 2012

Name: Château Brane Cantenac, 2ème Cru Classé, Margaux
Brand: Château Brane-Cantenac
Price: 374.74 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2012 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

justerini & brooks tasting note

The flavour profile is classic, 2012 was not a solaire vintage but there is power up front; dominated by rich dark fruits as well as delicate red currants, orange rind and cherry aromas. There is an incredible amount of mineral lift on the mid palate: pencil shavings, sea salt, pepper and cracked fennel seed. Cigar box lingers on the long persistent finish with hints of forest floor starting to show.

critic reviews

92/100Neal Martin,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2012 Brane-Cantenac was a relatively late-ripening vintage for which harvest finished on October 16. This is far better than the 2011 with more fruit and vigour. Finely delineated blackberry, wild hedgerow and graphite scents continue to lend it a Pauillac-like allure. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and vivid black fruit laced with white pepper, leather and tobacco. Very harmonious and quite elegant in style, this has a very endearing poise on the finish. The 2012 is just entering its drinking window now and should give another 20 years' drinking pleasure. Impressive for the vintage. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025.

DRINKING WINDOW 2025 - 2045

date of review 09/2025

90/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

The 2012 Brane-Cantenac is medium to deep garnet colored. It opens with tobacco leaf, leather, and tilled earth scents over a core of prunes and mince pies, plus a suggestion of dried sage. The medium-bodied palate is a little thin yet has nice freshness, offering chewy tannins and a savory finish.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2032

date of review 02/2023

92/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2012 Brane-Cantenac was picked from September 27 to October 16. It has a straight-down-the-fairway, classic nose for this estate, featuring open tobacco and graphite aromas that display great vivacity. You would think this was a Pauillac if tasted blind. The medium-bodied palate is more saline compared to previous bottles, delivering fine tannin and a tang of white pepper and fennel toward the finish that lingers in the mouth. This was a big surprise, but the 2012s have really blossomed in bottle, and this is no different. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château.

DRINKING WINDOW 2021 - 2045

date of review 01/2019