March 23, 2024 - 2004 Bordeaux at 20 years courtesy of Mark Taylor; 3/23/2024-3/24/2024 (Atlanta, GA): Mmm, cherry, red fruit, HORSE, earth, nose is exploding, soaring, chewy, tannic, dark and savory. Oh yeah, this WANTS a steak. Still very young, green (in a good way). I questioned if I should be guessing right bank, but the real question I did not ask is whether I should be guessing Margaux. My #3 and the group #4. Guessed incorrectly as Branaire-Ducru.
February 4, 2024 - I wasn't over-keen on this in the past, to say the least. I kept one bottle to see how it would age, and when I last tried it four years ago, I was right and wrong.
It has aged much better than I expected, with classic Brane elegance and charm - the fruit is mostly wild strawberry, with some faded rosehip, more than I expected. It is certainly drinking well now.
But there is no comparison with the 01 I tried a few weeks ago and it should probably be opened sooner rather than later (there is a little unripe bitterness to the fruit on the finish, which will probably get worse).
November 19, 2023 - 20 Vintages of Brane Cantenac: My limited experience with Brane has been mostly positive, and this tasting confirmed my initial thoughts: these days, Brane is A) usually quite accessible and charming, even young; B) the quality has steadily improved over the years, the wines are becoming more complex, precise and balanced; while vintages pre 2015 often seemed a bit simple, more recent vintages show better, C) the aromatics in recent vintages remind me of Ch. Margaux, with beautiful ripe red fruit core, as well as floral and coffee components; and D) the quality/price ratio is exceptionally good (not considered for the ratings). E) The best wine was the ethereal 2020 (96 points), followed by a superbly fresh 2010 (95 points). Although the quality is exceptional these days, the Chateau didn't fully nail every vintage, the 2019 (93pts) and, more surprisingly, the 2016 (93pts) were strong but a tad too ripe and sweet.
TN: Very beautiful nose with cola, fresh dark and blue berries. On the palate lots of coffe and burnt sugar notes, herbs and fresh dark and blue fruit. Even some red berries mixed in. While it is not a very complex wine, this showed great balance, a cool fresh expression of Bordeaux and an impeccable balance. Others liked it less but I’m a fan of wines with a rather seductive style in cooler vintages and this 2004 was no exception. This bottle was easily drinking on a 93+pts level.
Decanting: Not decanted. A short decant should be enough.
November 19, 2023 - agree with other comments -- the time to open was yesterday :)
February 6, 2023 - Soft, velvety finish but clearly post-peak.
Drink em if you got em.
July 26, 2022 - 92/93. Aromas of forest fruits, iron, flowers, cassis and spice. Its spherical, medium bodied solid yet decently elegant oaked freshly fruited red and blue fruits palate has lovely depth +ends longish, fresh and tapering. 13%. Got this for around 30 Pounds. At 60 Euros+ this is OK value. Lay down 10 years. Needs 3hrs aeration. Improves on day 3 to a 93.
May 27, 2022 - See Wconnoly‘s notes below. Drink up.
June 19, 2021 - Medium garnet in color. Nose of forest floor and damp leaves, musty but never blew off. Earthy on the palate with mushroom, leather and oak. Opened a bit after 3 hours to reveal some fruit...raspberry, a bit of cassis. Fairly light for a Bordeaux. Still has some tannic backbone left and a medium finish. Must be the vintage with this. I have had older Brane Cantenac from a great vintage that was still full and complex even older than this.
January 2, 2021 - Fresh blackcurrants on the nose - like freshly cut black currant bush. A typical Margaux soft, satin quality. Pastilles, tobacco leaf. Balanced but a bit watery on the finish, though leaves a long lasting sweet impression in the mouth. Another nice 04
December 26, 2020 - This is in a great place now with a short decant - superb with roast beef.