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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 36 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by chatters on 3/31/2023: Atsushi Extravaganza! (Tokyo, Japan): Opens with time to show ripe but fresh black fruits; plums over blackcurrant backed by baking spice, a little leather, earth and iron/blood. Quite a compelling nose, quite 1990 for me based on previous experiences. Juicy, sweetly fruited, tight, slightly leathery chewy tannins are in support, baking spice a little red berry note appears with time. Very pleasant. Wonderful in fact. (1059 views) | | | Tasted by ChâteauneufDuPfaff on 1/6/2023 flawed bottle: Quite elegant nose but hollow body with almost no fruit left. Also based on the other reviews I'd rather say flawed than over the hill. But it's been 32 years, so you never know... (1066 views) | | | Tasted by crewald on 8/24/2022: Had with grilled wagyu ribeyes and roasted potatoes. Lovely, elegant claret. Soft cork, some bricking, pale ruby. Decanted for 30 mins, lots of sediment. But the wine itself was silky and harmonious. Simply delightful. (1439 views) | | | Tasted by KLutt on 2/6/2022 & rated 92 points: A little past its peak but still a great glass of wine. Muted bouquet and finish. It was very consistent throughout the meal and dessert. (1977 views) | | | Tasted by Paula9394 on 10/23/2021 & rated 95 points: It has passed its peak, but what a wonderful wine! Lots of fruits still around, and tannins to balance. A lovely nose, and a lovely start in the mouth. Fades rather quickly,. (1952 views) | | | Tasted by StefanAkiko on 11/21/2020 & rated 94 points: Google Meet tasting online: 1/2-btl.
Light oxidization but a fantastic wine!
This is one of the myriad proofs that mature Bdx cannot easily be lived without.
Not as fragrant as expected, more of a rustic Bdx earthy aroma profile with the smallest touch of brett.
In the mouth, the acids run the show! Twirling around the mature fruit and beautiful tannin. Intense, delicious and long.
A schoolbook example of a great Left Bank Bdx.
Has plenty of life left.
Yumm! (2655 views) | | | Tasted by ljl on 4/13/2020 & rated 92 points: Dark color. Aroma of wet straw. Black cherry (2774 views) | | | Tasted by kharthick on 2/2/2020: With Jack and Alex at home (2511 views) | | | Tasted by bon vivant on 12/4/2018: Another solid bottle very consistent with my notes from May 2018 (3140 views) | | | Tasted by bon vivant on 5/27/2018 & rated 93 points: Very nice showing this evening, decanted for light sediment; mature but in a good place and kept evolving and improving over a few hrs consumed. Classic aromas, soft texture with round tannins and some nice meat & Leather notes. Easy and solid. (3795 views) | | | Tasted by Milos on 11/18/2017 & rated 91 points: Aged Bordeaux nose of strawberry, cassis and touch of leather; quite funky and inviting. The palate is smooth, elegant, balanced with no tannins left yet still holds together very well, decent finish. Very very enjoyable now. (3583 views) | | | Tasted by wineappreciation on 12/23/2016 & rated 91 points: Rhubarb, aged cassis, strong pencil lead, forest floor; smooth, elegant, balanced, mellowed tannins, a gradual but accelerating descent
After one hour: Nose more integrated, more animale, and slightly tawny; notes of cinnamon on palate, and very good with food (4439 views) | | | Tasted by Loekkeboe on 12/27/2015: Good mature margaux wine. Quite mature, some would say old. Liked it. (5547 views) | | | Tasted by LWI on 3/6/2014 & rated 92 points: 1990 Bordeaux Horizontal: Blind. Very detailed aromas of camphor and spice, intriguing, minerals/smoke, some xtoc notes – a nose to delve in; not quite as intriguing in the mouth, long, fresh, a bit lacking in the finish, moderate body only (6998 views) | | | Tasted by -E- on 3/6/2014 & rated 88 points: (Blind) Klar, rød med mildt oransje kant. Bringebær og fioler på nese med innslag av kamfer og hint av buljong.
Bløt, klar, ren frukt med mild sødme og lett kropp. Frisk syre. Bløte tanniner. Lang, fruktig utgang. Taper seg noe med tid i glasset. (6275 views) | | | Tasted by Vinoevelo on 2/1/2014 & rated 94 points: Decanted for an hour. Beautiful. Delicate light ruby with light bricking. Raspberry, cassis, tobacco and that consummate bordeaux funk while remaining fresh, delicate and lithe. Not the most complex '90 but embodies everything that was great about the vintage in Margaux. The kind of wine I could smell all night with the textbook Margaux floral perfume with a good dose of violets. The last sips 4 hours after the first shifted to beef broth, soy and grilled peppers. Unmistakably bordeaux. Love it. (5365 views) | | | Tasted by bacchus on 4/27/2013 & rated 90 points: came back to selkirk manor after having dinner with marty and sandy at the french tart on staten island. i wanted to introduce marty to something other than his passion (pinot noir) and offer him an example of my passion (bordeaux). even though i had just tasted this wine a few weeks ago, this was the only bottle i had readily at hand. also at the table were pat, ellen and mahesh. paired with an assortment of cheeses. although not quite as intense as the last bottle, the wine still showed extremely well. full fill. cork intact. minimal penetration on shank. garnet color. beautiful earthy brane nose that i love so much. very full in the mouth although more graceful and delicate than the last bottle. luscious fruit. very firm. no sign of aging (no prunes again this time). improves in the glass. after considerable reflection in silence, marty indicated that he enjoyed this new adventure. (4821 views) | | | Tasted by bacchus on 4/19/2013 & rated 92 points: i brought this wine to a central jersey CT offline at pairings in cranford, n.j. shared with pat, cjsavino and his wife, and doubled1969. full fill. cork intact. minimal penetration on shank. garnet color. beautiful earthy brane nose that i love so much. this bottle has put on some weight since last tasting. very full in the mouth. luscious fruit. very firm. no sign of aging (no prunes this time). improves in the glass. not a heavy weight but certainly had more structure than the 1975. this wine probably does not have longevity potential comparable to the 1975 but as a side by side comparison, i preferred the 1990 since it had a more complex presentation in the mouth. cj seems to have preferred the 1975 for its subtlety. doubled was kind of non-commital. will be interesting to repeat the vertical in a year and see where we are then. (3883 views) | | | Tasted by dalondra on 12/31/2012 & rated 92 points: Perfectly mature. Firm , ripe tannins. Dark frult, long , quite acidic. Perfect after 1 hr in decanter. (3079 views) | | | Tasted by bacchus on 12/19/2011 & rated 90 points: shared with pat at selkirk manor. a year has gone by since we last tasted this. this bottle was in better shape than the last. just the slightest hint of browning at the edge. just the slightest hint of prune on the taste. gorgeous brane nose that i love so much. not very muscular. need to enjoy the elegance on its own or with simple beef dishes. no sauces please. (3841 views) | | | Tasted by bacchus on 12/17/2010 & rated 90 points: shared with pat at selkirk manor to wind down the week. it did not offer the wow factor as described when last tasted in january of 2009. as other tasters have noted, it is starting to show some age. it was very enjoyable, nevertheless. dare i say it was like having a wonderful brane together with a delicious prune danish? will wait awhile to taste the next one and hope for the best. (3894 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 6/24/2010 & rated 89 points: This light ruby colored wine was showing signs of age. With complex aromatics of tobacco, truffle, cassis and fresh leaves were a pleasure to spend with, Medium bodied with elegant textures, the wine finished with spicy cassis. (4039 views) | | | Tasted by 3daywinereview.com on 3/9/2009: Tired and past peak. Cranberry, tobacco and minerals. Could be an off bottle or not stored properly. No score given. (1546 views) | | | Tasted by Mattshank on 3/8/2009 & rated 88 points: Bordeaux Tasting at Cafe Levain: Nose: Sweet red fruits. Palate: Soft red fruits that were very ripe. Decent wine, but seemed simple in comparison with some of the other star wines of the night. Perhaps if it were earlier in the rotation it might have been more impressive. (5142 views) | | | Tasted by bacchus on 1/16/2009 & rated 92 points: shared with pat and ellen at home. this is our third bottle consumed and is the best so far. wow! wow! it has everything that i want from brane cantenac, one of my favorite wines. siggy's note of 7/08 says it all. if there were such a thing as a winedog that would have been me. sticking my nose in the glass and not taking it out. beautiful wine. hope at least some of the rest of the case is just as good. another member believes this wine still has potential to improve with age. i would rather not take a chance. (3778 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, Long Distance Runner: Brane-Cantenac 1924-2015 (Jan 2019) (1/1/2019)
(Brane-cantenac Brane-cantenac Red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Brane-Cantenac Producer website - Read more information about Chateau Brane Cantenac
Château Brane-Cantenac is a 2nd growth estate.
Production Area: 75 hectares in the Margaux appellation.
Terroir: There are 3 main terroirs on the estate: the first and the most valued is a large sweep of gravel in front of the château at the top of the Margaux-Cantenac plateau. The plateau de Brane has a thick layer of surface gravel, which provides both radiant heat to the vines as well as excellent drainage. The second section is centered around and behind the château; here there is still gravel, but a higher proportion of sandy soil, and no clay. The third section is on the other side of the Route d’Arsac; this is La Verdotte, a 10-hectare vineyard planted 35 years ago; here the soil is a gravelly sand again. There is a fourth vineyard, Notton, a 13-hectare plot of coarse gravel over clay, and more distant from Brane-Cantenac than the other vines.
Plantation Density: 8,000 vines per hectare
Average Age of the Vines: 35 years old
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon covers 55% of the vineyard, with 40% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, and 0.5% Carmenère
Harvest: The fruit is picked by hand with typical yields around 45 hl/ha, and then transported to the cellar using the Air Tec system which cushions the fruit, protecting it from damage with its pneumatic suspension. The freshly harvested fruit enjoys a cold soak; for wet vintages, the team uses concentration methods, reducing the water content of the must by vacuum extraction.
Vinification: The fermentation is induced by inoculation with yeast, and in the first few vats there may also be contemporaneous inoculation with malolactic bacteria. The fermentation is naturally temperature controlled, and may last between 7 and 10 days. As it progresses, the wine can see a lot of handling, not only pumping over but sometimes pigeage and even délestage. The fruit will see a maceration lasting between 20 and 30 days before pressing using two pneumatic presses, and both the free-run and press wines are then fed into barrels, using 60-70% new oak, ready for malolactic fermentation.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.Margaux Read more about Margaux and its wines As with a large part of the Bordeaux vineyards, vines first appeared in Margaux during the Gallo-Roman period.
In 1705 a text mentions Château Margaux . But we have to wait for the end of the eighteenth century and the coming of the earliest techniques in aging for the concept of wines of high quality to develop. The confirmation of this was the famous 1855 classification which recognized 21 Crus Classés in the Margaux appellation. One hundred years later, the Viticultural Federation and the Margaux appellation of controlled origin were born. The appellation, which stretches out over five communes, is actually unique in the Médoc in that it is the only one to contain all the range of wines, as rich as they are vast, from First Great Cru Classé to the Fifths, not forgetting its famous Crus Bourgeois and its Crus Artisans.
In Margaux there is a predominance of Garonne gravel on a central plateau of about 4 miles in length and one and a quarter wide. To the east-south-east, it overlooks the low lying land by the estuary. Its east side is marked by gentle, dry valleys and a succession of ridges.The layer of gravel in Margaux was spread out by a former Garonne in the early Quaternary. Rather large in size, it is mingled with shingle of average dimension and represents the finest ensemble of Günz gravel in the Haut-Médoc. It is on this ancient layer on a Tertiary terrace of limestone or clayey marl that the best Médoc crus lie. All the conditions for successful wine are present : a large amount of gravel and pebbles, poor soil which cannot retain water and deep rooted vines.
It is customary to say that Margaux wines are the "most feminine" in the Médoc, thus stressing their delicacy, suppleness and their fruity, elegant aromas. This does not affect their great propensity for aging; just the opposite, for the relatively thin terroir imparts tannins which give them long life. The other characteristic of these wines which combine an elegant vitality, subtlety and consistency, is their diversity and personality. Over and above the flavour which is their "common denominator", they present an exceptional palette of bouquets, fruity flavours which show up differently from one château to another.
Production conditions (Decree dated August 10 1954)
In order to have the right to the Margaux appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Margaux, Cantenac, Soussans, Arsac and Labarde, "excluding the land which by the nature of its soil or because of its situation, is unfit to produce wine of this appellation".
- satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare).
Vins de Bordeaux:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot
Soil: Gravel and silt plateau on a layer of limestone or silt on clay
Surface Area: 1,530 ha |
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