The Story
A distinguished Margaux with expressive aromas of cassis, blackberry, violet, graphite, cedar, and refined spice. Silky tannins, vibrant freshness, and exceptional precision create a beautifully balanced Bordeaux with remarkable elegance and outstanding aging potential.
Food Pairing: Pair with beef Wellington, roast lamb, duck breast, venison, truffle dishes, aged Comté, or wild mushroom risotto.
99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
A brilliant, borderline perfect wine, the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère and 1% Petit Verdot, aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak. Intensely aromatic with blue fruits, spring flowers, graphite and damp earth, it gains remarkable depth and complexity with air. Full-bodied and seamless, it delivers ultra-fine tannins, perfectly integrated acidity, flawless balance and a spectacular finish. Built to age gracefully for more than 40 years.
98 Points - Decanter
One of the standout wines of the vintage. Aromas of coffee, tobacco, licorice, dark chocolate, blackcurrants and floral notes lead into a smooth, succulent and velvety palate. Pure, vibrant and effortlessly balanced, with delicate yet filling tannins, exceptional clarity of fruit and impressive concentration. Powerful without excess, combining generosity, freshness and precision. Simply wonderful.
Barrel Sample: 98 Points
98 Points - Vinous
The 2022 Brane-Cantenac is a wine that rewards patience and contemplation. Harvested between September 7 and October 10, it includes 16% press wine from Cabernet Sauvignon. Elegant and precise, it reveals blackberry, wild strawberry, cedar and tobacco aromas with remarkable freshness. Medium-bodied with supple tannins, it is classically styled, beautifully composed and quietly profound. A wine to treasure after 15–20 years of cellaring.
97 Points - James Suckling
A rich and dense vintage with exceptional ripeness. Full-bodied with polished, velvety tannins and a plush, sensuous texture. Long and caressing on the finish. Blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère and 1% Petit Verdot.
94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Brane-Cantenac has turned out beautifully in bottle, offering aromas of cassis, plums, cigar wrapper, violets and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, layered and velvety, it combines a vibrant core of fruit with rich, chalky tannins, displaying excellent energy, balance and persistence. The blend consists of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc, Carménère and Petit Verdot.
Description
A distinguished Margaux with expressive aromas of cassis, blackberry, violet, graphite, cedar, and refined spice. Silky tannins, vibrant freshness, and exceptional precision create a beautifully balanced Bordeaux with remarkable elegance and outstanding aging potential.
Food Pairing: Pair with beef Wellington, roast lamb, duck breast, venison, truffle dishes, aged Comté, or wild mushroom risotto.
99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
A brilliant, borderline perfect wine, the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère and 1% Petit Verdot, aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak. Intensely aromatic with blue fruits, spring flowers, graphite and damp earth, it gains remarkable depth and complexity with air. Full-bodied and seamless, it delivers ultra-fine tannins, perfectly integrated acidity, flawless balance and a spectacular finish. Built to age gracefully for more than 40 years.
98 Points - Decanter
One of the standout wines of the vintage. Aromas of coffee, tobacco, licorice, dark chocolate, blackcurrants and floral notes lead into a smooth, succulent and velvety palate. Pure, vibrant and effortlessly balanced, with delicate yet filling tannins, exceptional clarity of fruit and impressive concentration. Powerful without excess, combining generosity, freshness and precision. Simply wonderful.
Barrel Sample: 98 Points
98 Points - Vinous
The 2022 Brane-Cantenac is a wine that rewards patience and contemplation. Harvested between September 7 and October 10, it includes 16% press wine from Cabernet Sauvignon. Elegant and precise, it reveals blackberry, wild strawberry, cedar and tobacco aromas with remarkable freshness. Medium-bodied with supple tannins, it is classically styled, beautifully composed and quietly profound. A wine to treasure after 15–20 years of cellaring.
97 Points - James Suckling
A rich and dense vintage with exceptional ripeness. Full-bodied with polished, velvety tannins and a plush, sensuous texture. Long and caressing on the finish. Blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère and 1% Petit Verdot.
94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Brane-Cantenac has turned out beautifully in bottle, offering aromas of cassis, plums, cigar wrapper, violets and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, layered and velvety, it combines a vibrant core of fruit with rich, chalky tannins, displaying excellent energy, balance and persistence. The blend consists of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc, Carménère and Petit Verdot.
