Chateau Brane Cantenac 2015

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Purpur. Tiefes Bouquet, feine Rauchnoten, Trüffel, Lakritze, Darjeeling, dunkles Leder, dann Brombeerennoten. Das Nasenbild ist aber (noch) wenig kommunikativ. Im Gaumen samtig, dicht, einen intensiven, aber nicht überextrahiert wirkenden Extrakt aufweisend, er schöpft unglaublich viel aus der Tiefe. Trotz seiner enormen Konzentration wird er sich in Richtung Finesse entwickeln. Für mich ist das der beste Brane-Cantenac und somit der erste, der 19/20 verdient und diese Einschätzung, wenn auch relativ spät, beweisen wird. Damit ist er auf der Stufe von Margaux, Palmer und du Tertre, was die Klassement-Achterbahn dieses Jahrganges deutlich beweist."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "If this does not knock you out, I do not know what to say. Refined and elegant, with depth, vibrancy and purity of fruit, this is clearly the best wine made in the long history of Brane Cantenac. Intellectual and sexy, the sweet, perfectly ripe fruits, intense florality, silky tannins and length are in abundance here. There is a lot going on here in the nose and on the palate to keep you busy for decades! And at least for the time being, the wine still sells for a song."

DECANTER: "Right from the attack this has beautiful intensity and focus, with tannins covered by a layer of silk. A dash of violet and white pepper comes in from the Carmenère and Cabernet Franc two-step (from now on you can expect this partnership to appear more regularly). This is frankly delicious, the generous berry fruits reverberating with some wonderful notes of coffee bean and charcoal smoke, outlined by a mouthwatering minerality. A step up in poise and texture from the 2014. 39% of production."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Rich, fruity and with great potential, this ripe wine is also dense with firm tannins. Its juicy fruits are a part of a package with the concentrated tannins and smoky wood flavors that allow for long aging. This is an impressive wine from one of the Margaux properties owned by the Lurton family. Drink from 2025."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Quite impressive ripe dark plums and blackberries with sweet, earthy depth and cedary background oak on the nose. The palate has smooth, slick tannins that carry rich dark fruit long and fresh. This has terrific energy and depth. Really vibrant. Incredible length. Drink from 2022."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2015 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as a mix of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Carmenere brought up in roughly 75% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied beauty excels on all accounts and gives up gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil, spice and hints of toasted bread. Polished, impeccably balanced, concentrated, and with ripe tannin, it’s a rock star in 2015 that can be drunk young or cellared for 20-25 years. Bravo!"

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON: “Tasted blind. Shiny deep crimson. Pretty smart and intense on the nose. Rather subtle and glorious. Very difficult to spit because it’s so suave and layered. Good freshness and so active under the aroma. Meaty but not at all reduced. Complete."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Silky and refined, with seductive crushed plum and raspberry fruit that glides along, perfectly melded with singed alder and mesquite notes along with black tea and warm licorice details. A violet element hangs in the background, adding to the elegance. Best from 2020 through 2035."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2015 Brane-Cantenac is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with a nose of crushed black berries and chocolate-covered cherries with touches of fried herbs and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, refreshing and elegant in the mouth, with chewy tannins, it has an herbal lift on the finish."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zart tabakig unterlegte schwarze Beerenfrucht, kräuterwürziger Touch, vegetale Anklänge. Saftig, komplex, Brombeeren, etwas spröde Tannine, zitronig-mineralischer Touch im Nachhall, salziger Rückgeschmack."