Château Brane Cantenac, 2ème Cru Classé, Margaux, 2019
Henri Lurton's magnificent second growth Chateau in Margaux has been on a fine run of form. The 2018 is an exceptional effort, one that may even eclipse the superb 2015 and 2016. This is quintessential Margaux; all fragrance and purity of fruit. The bouquet offers notes of potpourri, griotte liqueur and Chambord - this is so seductive and nuanced. It is very distinguished with a real sense of nobility. Pure, decadent fruits wash over the palate - this is so finely textured and beautifully transparent. There's good weight of fruit; polished, sensual, sweet blackberries, toast and sweet spice. We were so impressed by the focus, precision and vibrancy of the fruit - it engages and coats the palate without any heaviness. The tannins are salty and lithe, packed with distinguished fruity detail. A harmonious and gorgeously textured Brane. 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 13.4% Alcohol.
critic reviews
The 2019 Brane-Cantenac marked the introduction of the R'Pulse system to enhance extraction and obviate the use of pumping-over. By then, the wine was mostly sourced from 30 hectares at the heart of the estate on Terrace IV gravels, with 100% new oak used during élevage. Vivacious blackberry, blueberry and hints of shucked oyster shells make for a far superior nose to the 2018 with more delineation, freshness and mineralité. The palate is medium-bodied with a notably sapid entry, verging on briny in style with plenty of black olives (perhaps due to the focus on the gravelly terroir?). Cohesive with impressive grip on the finish, this is a long-term prospect that will flourish with bottle age. Superb. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025.
High spice notes, cumin, sandalwood, cedar, white pepper. confident, slow unroll, cassis and blackberry, brambled hedgerow, espresso and cocoa bean. Field-grafting increased Cabernet Sauvignon to over 70% on the plateau at this point, with the 1st wine entirely sourced from the 30ha of Terrace 4. Harvest September 18 to October 9, 50.3hl/h yield, 100% new French oak for the first time. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.
The 2019 Brane-Cantenac has a deep garnet-purple color. It is a tad closed to start, offering subtle notes of dried herbs, warm plums, and tobacco leaf, with wafts of aniseed, fresh blackcurrants, and black olives. The full-bodied palate is firm and grainy, with lively acidity supporting the muscular fruit and a savory finish.
Derived exclusively from the chateau's holdings on the deep gravel soils of the plateau of Brane, the 2019 Brane-Cantenac has turned out brilliantly and merits a special effort to seek out. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, pencil shavings, violets, sweet loamy soil and cardamon, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with lively acids, ripe tannins and a beautifully seamless, perfumed profile. Retaining all the estate's signature elegance but with an extra dimension of depth and intensity, it's the finest Brane-Cantenac of the modern era and one of the great successes of the 2019 vintage.