This estate has been on a roll, and their 2020 Chateau Brane-Cantenac is another brilliant wine that readers will love. Largely in the mold of the 2019, it has a deep purple hue as well as an incredible bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherries, freshly sharpened pencils, tobacco, and flowers. This medium to full-bodied, richly textured, concentrated, yet remarkably elegant 2020 has the vintage's fresher, focused, elegant profile but still brings plenty of flesh and opulence. Beautifully done, it's going to evolve for a solid 30 years in cold cellars and offer incredible pleasure all its life.
by JD, Jeb Dunnuck , 2023
Blackberries, plums, currants, tobacco and violets on the nose. Bitter chocolate and mocha, too. It's refined and focused, with a medium to full body and firm, tightly-knit tannins. Very long, laser-focused and polished. Very classy. Best of the trilogy.
by JS, James Suckling , 2023
From what is one of Margaux's leading estates, this wine is structured and initially firm. Then it reveals luscious black fruits and succulent acidity that gives the wine a fine perfumed character, dense texture and the promise of some serious aging.
by RV, Wine Enthusiast , 2021
The 2020 Brane-Cantenac has turned out nicely, offering up aromas of blackberries and creme de cassis mingled with notions of licorice, pencil shavings, violets and subtle hints of smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a lavish core of fruit, ripe acids and sweet tannins that assert themselves on the savory finish, it can't quite match the purity and sensuality of the 2019, but it's a strong effort.
by WK, Wine Advocate , 2023
The 2020 Brane-Cantenac shows a little wood influence on the nose at the moment, presently obscuring some of the terroir. Savory elements emerge with time and improve with each swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, quite saline and spicy, with a marine-infused entry, though is needs more refinement toward the finish. Quite structured and serious, this Margaux requires time in bottle, yet there is pedigree from start to finish. Though this is not a 2020 I would touch for a few years, it will eventually reach its high potential.
by NM, Vinous Media , 2024