Tasting Ground official tasting, Chateau Cantenac Brown vertical tasting

tasting Cantenac Brown

• 2011 Château Cantenac Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  67% Cab Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 14 months French oak (60% new, 40% 1st use)
  Harvest dates:
  Merlot 13-21/09
  Cab Sauvignon 24-29/09
  13% alc
  -/-
  Bottle open 09.20 tasted 11.20
  Showing evolution in both color and nose.
  Dry red fruit, earthy, smoked paprika spice notes, some olive notes, sweet old oak notes, lean in general.
  Palate following the pattern of the nose, lean, dry red fruit, spice notes, a touch astringent, earthy, lacking finesse, med body, short to med finish, drink up.

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• 2012 Château Cantenac Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  65% Cab Sauvignon 35% Merlot, 14 months French oak
  (60% new, 40% 1st use)
  Harvest dates:
  Merlot 01-12/10
  Cab Sauvignon 08-17/10
  13.50% alc
  -/-
  Bottle open 09.20 tasted 11.20
  Thicker in the nose than 2011, mostly red fruit, currant, strawberry notes, spice notes, coffee notes
  Palate with red fruit, a touch of alcohol warmth, dried fruit, not as lean as 2011 but still lacking some concentration and complexity, the oak stands taller in the equation.

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• 2014 Château Cantenac Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  65% Cab Sauvignon 35% Merlot, 15 months French oak
  (60% new, 40% 1st use)
  Harvest dates:
  Merlot 25/09-01/10
  Cab Sauvignon 07-15/10
  13.50% alc
  -/-
  Bottle open 09.20 tasted 11.20
  Much thicker in profile, ripe red fruit, much fresher than either 2011 or 2012 and not because its 2 years younger, blue fruit notes as well, there is a nice stalky freshness too.
  Richer than 2011 and 2012 in palate, dry red fruit, earthier and spicier than expected, the tannins have an edge in them, med body, crunchy med finish

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• 2016 Château Cantenac Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  68% Cab Sauvignon 32% Merlot
  16 months French oak (60% new, 40% 1st use)
  Harvest dates:
  Merlot 23-29/09
  Cab Franc 03-04/10
  Cab Sauvignon 10-19/10
  13.50% alc
  -/-
  Bottle open 09.20 tasted 11.20
  Big powerful nose, broad, fleshy, ripe red and black fruit, juicy, showing depth, the fruit is more distinguished, youthful, more oak but definitely well in balance with the fruit.
  Palate showing full body, very ripe, rich, red fruit, shows warmth but not heat, very dry, highly extracted, spice and oak notes, broad, long finish.
  If I had to find something here, I’d say that feels a bit flabby, lacking some nerve to be truly great. But drinking very nicely even now and almost everyone loved it in the tasting

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