2005 CHÂTEAU BRANE-CANTENAC 2ème Cru Classé Margaux

Bright berry and currant aromas with hints of minerals follow through to a full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Balanced wine.   89-91/100

A magnificent effort, the 2005 is the greatest Brane-Cantenac I have tasted. Even more compelling than it was last year, it admirably demonstrates why this was such a highly regarded property in the middle of the 19th century. Boasting a dense purple color, stunning sweetness, and a glorious perfume of spring flowers, lead pencil shavings, black cherry jam, and blackberries, it is an elegantly styled wine with gorgeous concentration, superb harmony, beautifully integrated tannin and acidity, and an expansive, long finish. Yet, the overall impression is one of finesse, elegance, and serious flavor concentration. While it will undoubtedly last 30 years or more, it is hard to know whether it will close down or become more drinkable. I recommend giving it 3-4 years of bottle age and drinking it over the following two and a half decades.   93-95/100

This dark plum/ruby-tinged Margaux displays a rich bouquet of dried herbs, truffles, meat juices, plums, anise, and black currants. Medium to full-bodied and complex, with a savory, broad, expansive mouthfeel, undeniable elegance, good freshness, and a long, moderately tannic finish, it requires 3-4 years of bottle age (or more if it closes down). It should evolve gracefully for 25+ years.   94/100

Good deep ruby-red. Deep aromas of plum, dark cherry, minerals, chocolate and flowers. Juicy, bright and unforced; not particularly fleshy but intense and subtle, with lovely penetration and cut. Finishes aromatic and persistent, with building tannins and a suggestion of black olive. This should put on weight as it ages in bottle. (May/June 2007)   90-92/100

Deep colour with a fragrant lift of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, shows strength of flavour without heaviness, leafy, very Margaux, long lingering finish. Drink 2010-25.   ****/18

I have been unimpressed by recent vintages of Brane-Cantenac, but this is a great success. A limpid deep black/purple hue. An intense, quite broody nose of blackberry, iodine and hedgrow. The palate is very vigorous and focused with fine tannins and impressive delineation. Blueberry and cassis towards the finish, perhaps an "animally" element that might evolve after bottling? Certainly a complex wine, that restores my faith in this venerable Margaux estate.   22/25

Less of a vast increase than many, and a lovely wine in the fragrant Margaux style - strongly recommended

Medium ruby-red. Fruit-driven aromas of boysenberry and blackberry. Spicy, sappy and very fresh, with penetrating flavors of dark berries complemented by a chocolatey richness. I find this quite primary and unformed today, even a bit brutal and tarry, perhaps due to the extraction. And yet this manages to avoid hardness. Tricky to assess but appears to offer very good potential.   87-90/100

Full, sweet, porty, almost overripe notes (unusual for Margaux 2005). Something feral almost. All ripe fruit and not much structure, plus a bit sweet and unappetising on the finish. Fruit juice rather than wine. Not sophisticated or deep though certainly a very easy drink. 2012-18   15.5