Château Brane- Cantenac

Margaux 2 Grand Cru Classé

2018 Château Brane-Cantenac 

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, floral, some spices, detailed, elegant, layered and nuanced nose. Truly elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, juicy and refined, lovely balance, long. 94-96

2018 Baron de Brane

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruity, spices, scented nose. Floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, anise, long. 89-91

2017 Château Brane-Cantenac 

APR 18 Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, fruity, floral, denser nose, intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, spices, blueberries, juicy, long. Lovely effort. 93-95

2017 Baron de Brane

APR 18 Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, fruity, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, lighter, some herbs, good length. 87-89

2016 Château Brane-Cantenac

MAY 19 Ruby. Scented, red berries, detailed, dark fruity nose, tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, blueberries, dark fruity, nuanced yet tight and shut at this stage, long. This is likely to go higher. 94

2016 Château Brane-Cantenac

APR 17 Ruby. Scented, dark fruity, some spices and anise nose, detailed, floral notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, some anise and spices, detailed, long. 94-96

2016 Baron de Brane

APR 17 Ruby. Scented, fruity, anise and blueberries nose, cassis. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, red fruits, elegant. 89-91

2015 Château Brane Cantenac

NOV 18 Ruby. Cassis, vanilla, blueberries, some coffee notes, darker and denser nose, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, dark fruits, intense, nuanced, long. Drink from 2025 to 2045. 95

2015 Château Brane-Cantenac

APR 16 Ruby. Fruity, dark berries, spices, tasted three times with consistent notes, the wood was a bit up front on all three samples. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, rounded, elegant and detailed. Long finish. 93-95

2015 Baron de Brane

NOV 18 Ruby. Raspberries, floral, dark fruits nose, scented and brighter expression. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, some spices, lighter, anise, good length. Drink now-2030. 88

2014 Château Brane-Cantenac

DEC 17 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, floral, scented, some cassis, again somewhat reductive nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, some spices, fruity, ripe, refreshing, long. 93

2014 Château Brane Cantenac

JUL 17 Ruby. Scented, blackberries, fruity, elegant and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fresh, lively, some vanilla and anise, long. 94

2014 Château Brane-Cantenac

JUN 15 Ruby. Cassis, floral, fruity, ripe and scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, elegant, playful and detailed, long. 94

2014 Château Brane-Cantenac

APR 15 Ruby. Fruity, scented, dark berries, vanilla, some floral notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, detailed and lively, long. 92-94

2013 Château Brane-Cantenac
APR 14 Ruby. Scented, red berries, fruity, violets nose, lovely. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, rounded, fresh, elegant and detailed, lovely effort. 91-93

2012 Château Brane Cantenac

JUL 17 Ruby. Vanilla, some spices, anise and dark berries nose, still tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, juicy, elegant texture and fruit, long. 93

2012 Château Brane-Cantenac

FEB 15 Ruby. Floral, scented, red berries and vanilla nose, elegant and somewhat detailed. Fesh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, intense, somewhat leaner, elegant and long. 92

2012 Château Brane-Cantenac

JUN 14 Deep ruby. Fruity, scented and nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and elegant palate, lively, complex and long. 93-94

2012 Château Brane-Cantenac

APR 14 Ruby. Scented, liquorice, kind of careful nose, layered and nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant body and texture, silky, long. 90-92

2011 Château Brane-Cantenac

MAR 19 Ruby. Fruity, blueberries, scented, dark fruity, floral nose, just starting to show a little bit of development. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, dark fruity, detailed and long. 94

2011 Château Brane-Cantenac

DEC 12 Rubinrød. Parfymert, røde bær, mineraler, eksotiske toner, floral, elegant duft. Frisk syre, modne tanniner, sødmefull og fruktig, fortsatt litt babyfett, detaljert og livlig, frisk og leken finish, lang. 2020-2035 94

2011 Château Brane- Cantenac

NOV 12 (Barrel sample sent to me to Norway, from the château) Deep ruby. Cassis, floral, somewhat scented, vanilla, quite layered and almost Pessac's smoky minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant texture and long finish. 91

2010 Château Brane- Cantenac

Ruby. Ripe, dark fruits, floral notes, vanilla, quite intense and open. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, fruity, intense, sweet dark fruits, smooth and long. 94

2010 Château Brane-Cantenac

NOV 12 Deep ruby, Fresh nose, fruity and floral, cassis, and up front now. Fresh acidity, and a lively feel, ripe tannin. The somewhat lean and rustic body and texture I found during primeur that was honed away in June last year, have now become layered, good length. 93

2010 Château Brane-Cantenac

JUN 11 Fresh nose, fruity and floral, lively with nice acidity, layered and long finish. 91-92

2010 Château Brane-Cantenac

MAY 11 Deep ruby, floral, cassis, somewhat lean and rustic body and texture, good length. 90-91

2009 Château Brane Cantenac

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruity and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, figs, detailed, nuanced and smooth, just starting to show a touch of development, tobacco finish. 95

2009 Château Brane-Cantenac

JAN 14 Ruby. Scented, floral, cassis, fruity and elegant nose, lovely. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, nuanced, refreshing, lovely wine, very long. 95

2009 Château Brane-Cantenac
NOV 13 Deep ruby. Blueberries, cassis, spices, floral, lovely nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively and refreshing, elegant, even playful, very long. 95

2009 Château Brane- Cantenac

NOV 12 Deep ruby. Intense and scented nose, floral, some mint. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant fruit. Needs time to open and show, so decant it for a few hours. Layered and complex, superb length. Somewhat sweet fruity feel. 92

2009 Château Brane-Cantenac

JUN 10 Deep ruby, ruby rim. Jasmin, floral notes over darker berries, vanilla and coffee. Good acidity, high of ripe tannins, some cherries and chocolate, good balance and complexity, long length. 89-91

2009 Château Brane- Cantenac

OCT 12  Deep ruby. Intense and scented nose, floral, some mint. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant fruit. Layered and complex, superb length. 93

2008 Château Brane Cantenac

DEC 15 Ruby. Some red berries, cassis, fruity, still some vanilla, light scented note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, juicy if leaner, long. 92

2008 Château Brane-Cantenac

NOV 12 Deep ruby. Flora notes behind elegant cassis, blueberries, vanilla and a faint hint of herbs. Quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant texture and structure. Quite elegant and mouthwatering and a very elegant 08. Lovely effort and a long length. 93

2008 Château Brane-Cantenac

NOV 12 Ruby. Scented, violets, blueberries and cassis. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, more flirting and open than last bottle, very elegant. 92

2008 Baron de Brane

MAR 13 (2nd Ch.Brane-Cantenac) Ruby. A bit rough before decanting, then cassis, floral and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant fruit and body, quite lively, good length. 87

2007 Château Brane-Cantenac

NOV 11 Ruby. Fruity, ripe, fresh, elegant if slightly sweet. 89

2006 Château Brane Cantenac

MAY 15 Ruby. Cassis, vanilla, scented, dark fruits, intense nose, floral, lovely nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, rounded, quite lively, structured, long. Far superior to last bottle. 95

2006 Château Brane- Cantenac

NOV 12 Deep ruby. Cassis, starting leather and somewhat scented. With hours of air, even floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, just shaking of the rawness that is typical of so many 06's. Ever so slightly lean palate, but that makes it more elegant. Needs 10 years in my book, long. 90

2005 Château Brane-Cantenac

NOV 11 Ruby, floral, layered and elegant, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, very elegant floral finish, the most together and finest Brane-Cantenac I've tasted, maybe besides the 2010. Would be fantastic if there is new ambitions here. 92

2004 Château  Brane-Cantenac

DEC 12 Rubinrød. Røde bær, fioler, elegant duft, detaljert, nyansert, startende fiken og lær. Frisk syre, modne tanniner, frisk, elegant, detaljert, rødbærsfruktig, flørtende. Lang finish. 2015-2030 92

1986 Château Brane-Cantenac

MAY 12 Bottom neck fill, bright ruby, orange rim. Playful, easy, clean, fruity, nice nose, easy going, very likeable, lovely palate. 89

1982 Château Brane- Cantenac

OCT 15 Top shoulder fill. Ruby, broad brick rim. Leather, a few figs, mint, leather, earthy, tired. Fresh acidity, lean palate, some tobacco and figs, tired. 82

1982 Chateau Brane Cantenac

NOV 09 Ruby with broad brick rim. Lovely floral nose, some leather, liquorice, great Earl Grey tea, light and elegant, still complex nose. Fresh acidity, mature tannins, almost gone, nice fruit, elegant and well balanced, but not so complex in the mouth. Ok finish. 80

1982 Château Brane-Cantenac

MAR 09 Ruby. Ruby with brick rim. Figs, dates, some blackberry jam left but maturing fast for the vintage. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, cassis, figs, bit earthy, good length. 88

1978 Château Brane-Cantenac

APR 18 Magnum. Ruby, brick rim. Scented, lighter nose, figs, floral notes, dates, touch of tobacco. Fresh acidity, soft tannins, gentle texture, elegant, lively and nuanced, a lovely 1978. 92

1976 Château Brane-Cantenac

NOV 12 Very top shoulder fill. Cork was loose and was pushed into the bottle when I tried to get the opener in it, so the bottle got emergency decanted to try to prevent flavor contamination from the old outer part of the cork. Bright ruby with thin orange rim. Quite full nose of violets, figs and ripe cherries. A scented overtone, almost of vanilla, that very finest fresh one. Fresh acidity, tannins more or less gone, almost Richebourg texture. Some sour cherry stones in the finish. Quite nice balance, and better than expected, but could be more complex and longer. More prunes with air. 88

1969 Chateau Brane-Cantenac

FEB 10 Ruby with orange rim, lots of sediments, B/C-level fill, soaked cork. Very developed, roses, leather, figs, prunes, very elegant nose, lowish acidity, barely detectable tannins, dried fruits, not to complex, just 11,5 alcohol, acidity comes back in the aftertaste and gives some freshness, long length, cannot handle food, but good on its own. 83

1964 Château Brane-Cantenac

DEC 10 Light ruby, broad brick rim, sweet tobacco, floral, hint of cedar, lean, good acidity, short and drying up. The best of three bottles. 77

1964 Château Brane Cantenac

DEC 10 Soaked cork, C level fill. Ruby colour, earthy and rotting leaf aromas, lean and acidic. Storage is likely to have been poor.

1964 Château Brane Cantenac

NOV 10 Ruby, orange rim. Anise, leather, tea, dark fruits and prunes. Lean, not too much expression, lean body, lots of sour cherries, good acidity, tannins gone and ok finish. 71

1957 Château Brane-Cantenac

APR 11 Mid shoulder fill. Ruby with broad brick rim, dried up, tired.

1925 Château Brane-Cantenac

APR 11 Calvet Bottle, states Médoc on the label. Mid shoulder fill, cork soaked. Ruby, thin orange rim. Earthy, wood, sweet tobacco, some metal, touch of leather, opens up quickly, teak. Lean body, medium acidity, drying finish. 76