CHATEAU BRANE-CANTENAC 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2021 Bottle

Description

Château Brane-Cantenac 2021 is an exceptional wine that exemplifies elegance and refinement, earning 95 points from both James Suckling and Vinous, and 93-95 points from The Wine Advocate. Suckling highlights its beautiful finesse, showcasing flavours of currants, roasted red chili pepper, and hints of charcoal, complemented by mineral notes. Vinous praises the wine's enticing aromatics, featuring crushed flowers, sweet pipe tobacco, and cedar, with a notable 74% Cabernet Sauvignon blend for added structure. The Wine Advocate notes its deep bouquet of wild berries and violets, along with a medium to full-bodied palate framed by powdery tannins. Decanter awarded it 90 points, appreciating its mint and eucalyptus notes. This wine is enjoyable now, with excellent potential for ageing.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 95 points
Beautiful finesse here that shows currants, roasted red chili pepper and a hint of charcoal, mineral and pencil shavings. Very refined and layered with a juicy, medium body and a long, composed finish. Classy and very layered. Drink or hold.
Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor

VINOUS 95 points
The 2021 Brane-Cantenac is a classy, elegant wine. The aromatics alone are so enticing. Crushed flowers, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, rose petal and cedar open first. The 74% Cabernet Sauvignon is a bit higher than in most years, which comes through in the wine's aromatic and structural profile. The 2021 is quiet and understated. Élevage was 18 months in 100% new French oak, but the wood is not at all evident—an important and positive sign regarding the wine's overall balance. Even so, the 2021 is a subdued Brane-Cantenac, one that needs time in bottle to shine at its brightest. - Antonio Galloni

THE WINE ADVOCATE (93 - 95) points
The 2021 Brane-Cantenac shows considerable promise, exhibiting a deep bouquet of wild berries, cassis, spices and violets, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and impressively concentrated palate that's framed by powdery tannins, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. This seamless and enveloping wine is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and the balance Carmenère and Petit Verdot. Once again, it's derived from the château's best holdings on the plateau of Brane and is maturing in entirely new barrels." - William Kelley 04/22.

DECANTER 90 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle
(at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2035
Real mint, eucalyptus-touched cherries and blackcurrants on the nose, black pepper and bramble aromas with soft perfume too. The texture is so smooth and this has excellent weight on the palate with the structure noticeable and appealing. The flavour fills the mouth and this has good grip and tension, the tannins seamless but the depth settling on the mid-palate with the spicy as well as mineral backbone running through the wine. Gorgeous clarity here and just a general feeling that this is really well made! A top second wine, so charming and so beguiling. Really approachable now but with the weight, structure and intensity to age. Great freshness too. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.63pH.