CHÂTEAU BRANE-CANTENAC

2005 2ème Cru Classé Margaux

Grapes Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Margaux
Classification 2ème Cru Classé

Fragrant nose, full of wood, interesting, very silky and fresh, great seamless purity and delicacy of expression, still with enough body, richness and length. Like the 2004 (but even better), this seems to embody the concept of the floral, feminine style of Margaux. Crisply delineated, fat and very long. Concentrated, mineral cassis and blackberry, very pure. Extraordinarily long and complete. Rating: 93 L&S (Apr 2006)


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Ruby red, this remains closed on the nose, and the tannic structure is still tight at 17 years old, proof that 2005 retains its ability to frustrate, but the hints of mature notes are finally becoming clear. So much potential and subdued power, linear, focused, great clarity of cassis and bilberry fruit, with 2005 energy showing a core of ripe fruit, tobacco and truffle. Excellent tension and balance, a tightrope walk through the palate here, edges of mandarin peel, raspberry leaf and eucalyptus showing that it wasn't a vintage that delivered overripe fruit, but balance and focus. It needs a little longer to fully express its potential. Drinking range: 2022 - 2042 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (Sept 2022)

Tasted with the late Dewey Markham Jnr during a deep dive into the 1855 classification, making it all the more special to think about it now. We both loved how this wine was showing during the tasting, and I have had it since and felt the same way. It has the most delicously smoky attack, with the balance and finesse of the appellation, with generous raspberry puree and blackberry fruits, all with a sense of dancing minerality and juice. An awesome wine that is just starting to really enter the perfect moment for drinking. Drinking range: 2021 - 2042 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (Nov 2021)

The 2005 Brane-Cantenac is fabulous. Effusive and explosive to the core, the 2005 possesses tons of energy and pedigree to burn. Crushed flowers, mint, gravel, red/purplish fruit, sage and mocha abound. In 2005 Brane-Cantenac is remarkably deep and vivid. It also comes across as needing a bit more time to soften. Readers will find one of the most distinguished wines of the Left Bank. I especially admire its drive and mid-weight classicism. Hints of cedar and sweet pipe tobacco linger. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2021)

Château Brane-Cantenac

Margaux Deuxième cru 1855 The estate was originally called Château Gorce after the family that owned it in he 18th Century, but the story really begins with its purchase by Baron Hector de Brane in 1833. Baron Hector was a well-known figure in the area, earning himself the nickname "Napoléon of the the Vines" and so keen was he to own Château Gorce that he sold Château Brane-Mouton in Pauillac to finance the purchase. Quite how much wisdom there was in ridding himself of the what was to become Château Mouton-Rothschild in order to secure the ownership of a slightly under-performing Second Growth property is debatable, but at the time the wines of the estate were consistently highly(ish) ranked. From the late 19th Century onward Brane-Cantenac followed a familiar Bordelais downward spiral. In 1920, it was purchased by the Societé des Grand Crus de France, owners of (among others) Château Margaux. In 1925, ownership passed to Léonce Récapet and his son-in-law François Lurton, but the real rennaissance of Brane-Cantenac came in 1956 when François' son - the great Lucien Lurton - took over. Today, his son Henri Lurton continues to run Château Brane-Cantenac. The period of Lurton ownership has been good to Brane-Cantenac, and the wines are consistent good performers although not really ranking alongside the best Second Growths of the Haut-Médoc, but this probably says more about the relevance of the 1855 classification than it does about the terroir and wines of Château Brane-Cantenac. Brane-Cantenac sits south-west of the village of Cantenac, next to Cantenac-Brown. There are 75ha of vineyard given over to 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc and a very unusual 0.5% Carmenere. The Grand Vin spends 18 months in wood, of which 50% is new every year. The second wine is called Baron de Brane in honour of Baron Hector who put the estate on the map in the early 19th Century.

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