Chateau Brane Cantenac 2016

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2016 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere picked from 22 September until 17 October (the tiny parcel of Carmenere picked three days later). The yields came in at 51 hectoliters per hectare and it is matured in 75% new oak and 25% one-year-old barrels, the final alcohol level 13.3%. It has a beautifully defined, very detailed bouquet with mineral-rich black fruit laced with cedar and graphite notes, living up to its nom de plume as the "Pauillac of Margaux." The palate is simply the best that I have ever tasted at the estate, without question. This has presence, but also weightlessness, filigree tannin and perfectly pitched acidity, with real intensity and drive. The tension here is outstanding and the persistence is incredibly long. It is not the showiest of all the 2016s by a long stretch, and yet it is everything you could possibly want from a Margaux. Like Beychevelle this year, the 2016 Brane-Cantenac puts recent vintages in the shade, thanks not only to the growing season, but also a new punching down system in their gravity-fed winery that was completed in 2015. The 2016 is a benchmark against which future vintages will be compared."

WEINWISSER: WEINWISSER:"Tiefes Purpur mit Granatschimmer am Rand. Ein berauschendes Bouquet, viel Brombeere und Schattenmorelle, dahinter Veilchen, Earl Grey-Touch und Lakritze. Im eleganten Gaumen saftig und mit feinem Biss, mit viel Potenzial ausgestattet. Er wird mit Reife noch etwas an Tiefe zulegen, aber mit der Finesse beweist er jetzt schon seine grosse Extraklasse. Im langen Finale mit schwarzer Johannisbeere und Holunderpastillen. Mit Tendenz zur besseren Note – der Höhenflug hält an! 18.5+/20

JAMES SUCKLING: "So much ripe and sweet tobacco on the nose with currant and blackberry character. Full body, intense tannins with density and beauty. It’s a wine with great structure and panache for this estate. Try after 2024."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The complex nose sets you in the right direction with its hints of espresso, flowers, thyme, ripe cherry, plum and cocoa aromas. Medium-bodied, finesse styled in character, with silky textures and freshness, if you can wait a decade for this to open, you are going to have a stunner in your glass!"

DECANTER: "It´s clear how well this wine is constructed in 2016. Vibrant cassis and violet notes are joined by a powerful shot of freshness then an austere finish with touches of white pepper, showing poise and power. A touch of Carmenère is now making a regular appearance in this wine. It represents 39% of the estate´s production, from a 51hl/ha yield in 2016."

JEB DUNNUCK: JEB DUNNUCK:"I missed this wine in my recent 2016 Bordeaux report, but I was able to purchase a bottle locally. A tremendous Margaux, the 2016 offers the quintessential elegance of the appellation as well as plenty of density, concentration, and ripe tannins. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedarwood, and flowery incense all emerge from the glass, and it builds nicely with air, offering medium to full body, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is classic Margaux as well as a classic 2016. It’s already approachable, and I doubt it will close down, yet it’s going to develop additional nuances with another 4-6 years of bottle age and have 25-30 years of prime drinking."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINE ENTHUSIAST:"Barrel Sample. While this wine has tannins, they're beautifully integrated with the juicy black-currant flavors to create a smooth texture. This rich ad structured wine is built for the long term."

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung, zart floral unterlegte reife Herzkirschen, Brombeerkonfit, zarte Edelholznuancen. Saftig, elegant und extraktsüß, gut integrierte Tannine, rotbeerige Nuancen, mineralisch und frisch, bleibt sehr gut haften, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON:"Tasted blind. Sweet and easy. Not dramatic but well mannered and all in balance. Inky and very Margaux. Henri Lurton and his sustainable viticulture will presumably be very pleased that his wine was the group's second-favourite Margaux after Ch Margaux in this Southwold tasting."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:"Shows a coffee edge, along with tobacco and bay notes that meld steadily into the core of steeped plum and black cherry fruit. The fleshy finish lets the bay element take an encore. A touch old-school."