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2016 CHÂTEAU CANTENAC BROWN Cru Classé Margaux, Lea & Sandeman

CHÂTEAU CANTENAC BROWN

2016 Cru Classé Margaux

Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Margaux
Classification Cru Classé
ABV 14%

Playing a bit of hide and seek on the day but tasted an hour later, it had clearly broken cover. It’s a solid, broad shouldered wine at first but not overbearing in anyway in this vintage. A lovely fresh drive of cassis and cherry fruit, with good density and tension. Very precise and compact and a cedary, balanced, sweet finish makes it, as ever, a very attractive buy from Margaux. Rating: 91-92 L&S (Apr 2017)


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The 2016 Cantenac Brown seems to have grown aromatically since I last tasted it a few months ago. More complex than I remember, this offers a cornucopia of scents: blackberry, briary, cedar and a lovely mintiness that recalls Palmer. The palate is silky smooth with great depth and delineation, satin-like, multi-layered, precocious black fruit laced with black pepper, tea leaves and cloves, all fanning out gloriously towards the finish. Bon vin! Tasted at the Cantenac Brown vertical at the château. Drinking range: 2025 - 2055 Rating: 95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Oct 2022)

The 2016 Cantenac Brown has a bright nose of blackberry and bilberry fruit, cedar and tobacco emerging with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins and fleshy, brambly red fruit laced with cedar and white tea, leading to a cohesive finish. I was parsimonious with my score in the past, but a recently tasted bottle showed that the wine just needed time to open. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2028 - 2050 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Aug 2020)

A solid step up and a brilliant Margaux, the 2016 Cantenac Brown checks in as 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot raised in 60% new French oak. Black cherries, currants, smoke tobacco, graphite, and hints of earth all emerge from this beautifully layered, medium-bodied, and concentrated 2016 that shines for its purity and precision, while still offering beautiful depth of fruit. Give it 3-4 years and enjoy this fabulous effort over the following 2-3 decades. Drinking range: 2022 - 2052 Rating: 93+ Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Feb 2019)

Château Cantenac Brown

Margaux Troisième cru 1855 In 1754 Jacques Boyd, who was of Irish descent, bought the estate that he would call, quite logically, Château Boyd. In 1806 he sold to a John Lewis Brown, of Scottish descent and the owner of Château Brown (in Pessac-Léognan). Some confusion then arises as the Cantenac property was also often referred to as Château Brown. Some grand parties followed at the newly-built tudor-style mansion before bankruptcy forced the sale of the estate in 1843. By the time of the 1855 classification, it was once again known as Château Boyd. Some time during the 19th Century, a portion of Château Boyd was divided off and, under the ownership of Armand Lalande (who also owned Château Leoville Poyferré), the impressive and unusual château that adorns the label was built and the name Cantenac-Brown was settled upon. The remainder of the estate went on to become Château Boyd-Cantenac. The period from the end of the 19th Century to the latter half of the 20th is a familiar story of decline. Salvation appeared when AXA Millésimes bought Cantenac-Brown in 1989, and they made great improvements to the estate, so it was a surprise when they sold to a British businessman Simon Halabi in 2006. The Cantenac-Brown rennaissance continues, however, under the new ownership. The 42ha of vineyard, farmed "in a more environmentally friendly way", are composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The Grand Vin spends 12 to 15 months in wood, of which 50% is new and the other 50% one year old. There is a second wine - BRIO de Cantenac Brown.

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