Chateau Brane-Cantenac 2eme Cru Classe, Margaux 2005

Balanced, elegant, understated, old school but resolutely full of grace. I wonder how many people today get excited by the quiet charm of this wine, but it certainly works for me. Will hang in there, and keep impressing over the years, like a 1970s Napa. Roses and raspberries, touch of campfire, broth, crushed mint, crayon, blackberry, understated and charming,with Margaux floral aromatics on the finish. It's not a bodybuilder, and yet there is a wiry frame and a mouthwatering finish. Harvest September 17 to October 10, 38.5hl/h yield, 3.64ph, 70% new French oak for ageing. Jacques Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner and estate director, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

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.

Made from 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, the 2005 Brane-Cantenac is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick. It bursts from the glass with maturing notes of plum pudding, raisin cake, and redcurrant jelly, plus hints of tree bark, unsmoked cigars, truffles, and tapenade with a waft of spice box. Medium-bodied, firm, and grainy with amazing tension, it coats the mouth with evolved black and red berry flavors, finishing long and mineral-laced.

The 2005 Brane-Cantenac is a renowned vintage. When Henri Lurton asked his father if he had witnessed a similar one, he replied "1928"…when he was just two years old! Brane-Cantenac stepped up a level with this vintage, dialling up fruit intensity a little without compromising delineation and focus. With blackberry, tobacco and touches of cedar in the background, this is very classy. The palate is medium-bodied and very well balanced with gentle grip, more density and backbone than previous vintages and a precise finish that Lurton was able to build upon in future vintages. Long and tender for the vintage, this is a marvellous Brane-Cantenac that will give 15 to 20 years of drinking pleasure. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025.

With its classic Left Bank profile, this blend of 51% Cabernet and 43% Merlot along with 8% Cabernet Franc aged in 70% new casks opened with a bit of tomato and some slightly herbal notes initially but gradually developed aromas of redcurrant, bright cherries, and spice. The texture on the palate was dense and tannic, pointing to a promise of future development—surprisingly good value.

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.