critic reviews
The 2024 Cantenac Brown was tasted from two samples. The bouquet is relatively light, defined and focused. Boysenberry fruit aromas emerge from the glass, though it's just missing a bit of horsepower. The palate is medium-bodied with blackberry and cedar notes, but there is a touch of greenness on the back palate and its tannins are coarse toward the finish. This château can make exceptional Margaux and I am so perplexed by these showings that I will defer scoring for now.
A step up in terms of concentration and structure, blackberry, cassis bud, raspberry leaf, slate, crayon, good stretch out through the palate, enjoyable. First full vintage in the new cellar here. Jose Sanfins director, Tristan Le Lous owner, 60% new oak, new winery fully completed as of this vintage.
The 2024 Cantenac Brown was cropped at a very low 16 hectoliters per hectare and represents 52% of the estate's production. The new winery's battery of smaller tanks made it possible to isolate sub-parcels to attain more homogenous maturity. Offering up aromas of cassis, violets and pencil shavings, it's medium-bodied, with good density and concentration, built around sweet tannins and integrated acids. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27.5% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.