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: Sadly, this bottle wasn’t particularly good. While there was still some life left on the nose, the palate was thin and with barely any fruit left. Nothing to write home about. Still, 89pts for the good nose displaying intense dark berries, crushed rocks, herbal notes and fine burnt sugar notes.
Decanting: Not decanted. I don’t think that more air would have changed things here but maybe this wasn’t a representative bottle.
Vertical of 20 vintages - Chateau Brane-Cantenac: It was a pleasure to taste 20 vintages of Brane-Cantenac. All wines were tasted blind and with little time (10min per flight of 4 wines). Coming from the Margaux appellation, the wine convinced 1) with its accessibility of all vintages, 2) often very feminine and fresh vinification and 3) especially the consistency of quality to be emphasized. So it was not surprising that all 20 bottles (for the first time in this tasting with 12 people) were empty. At the same time, it could also be noted that the very great complexity for ratings above 94 points is often somewhat lacking. Very exciting to observe were the significant change in fruit. Until the 2009 vintage, this was often primarily red-fruited, light and very strongly Cabernet influenced. From the 2009 vintage on, a clear shift to more extraction and sweetness of the fruit is noticeable. The last, often great vintages from 2015 to 2020 are ripe but still with a good freshness/acidity (except for 2015 according to my impression).
Tasting Note: - First notes of maturity apparent, delicate red fruit behind, very spicy, classic pepper / cabernet notes with the wood in the background. Is very accessible. - More advanced on the palate, has flavors of forest floor, underbrush, bayberries. But somehow is not very complex either, the fruit is a bit thin and not round enough, has some rough edges. Nice acidity structure. - 91-92 points
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Solid bottle with good cork, high shoulder fill. Terrific nose of tobacco, leather and cedar notes. Still quite fresh and expressive. Mature tertiary fruits on the palate that show a pleasant fullness. Finish is moderate, with just a tincture of austerity and bitterness on the back end keeping this from being at the next level.
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Commanderie de Bordeaux: Spring Parlement - Chateau Brane-Cantenac (Minneapolis Club, Mpls, MN): Dark red colr with a 7mm transition. Splash double decanted; drank a glass over an hour. Very open nose with red fruits; cherry, wild strawberry, dried violet, iodine like minerality, subtle chocolate, dried leaves, just a little volatility at times. Soft with red and black fruit on the palate, less fruit than one would expect with mineral and dried earth dominant. Really though, quite a lovely wine, fully mature and integrated, not a blockbuster '82 - at least not this bottle, but thoroughly pleasurable. 91+pt and delivering more charm than that. Rank '00, '78, '89, '82.
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Pronounced nose with earth, mushroom, cooked red and black fruits. Medium acidity and medium tannin. Tannin is integrated. Did not decant and serve from bottle. Its at the best showing and probably will not improve with further cellaring.
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An Epic Summer Wine Weekend; 7/1/2022-7/3/2022 (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada): This pours light garnet in the glass, with medium minus bricking. The nose is not quite as expressive as the wine poured previously, though the fruit is fresher. The nose is of mushroom, tobacco, dark cherry, celery seed, wet soil, violet, plum, and graphite. Really nice. The palate enters on the bright and sweet plummy fruit, then violets, the acid is medium plus, the tannin is medium. The finish doesn't linger quite as long as I might like, but what's there is really pretty and again is focused on plums and violets. This wine is very classically Margaux.
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Was delicious - classic floral Margaux with refined leather and black fruits; super smooth. Sediment not excessive. Possibly drunk this 5 years too late but it was my only one!
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Mature, but offers up some depth of flavors in a briary rustic way. Good underlying ripeness remains showing a nice flavor profile with fully integrated acid backbone. Well last prime, but still offers up some pleasure too.
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Cork was loose and dark; in great shape; leather and earth; sweet elegant cedar blackberry; balanced; complex; smooth velvety tannin; long elegant silky finish.
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Interesting wine, needed a long decant to wake up. Never made it to a good profile. Dull wine but not sure it was ever spectacular. Wine had held up but it isn’t worth holding on to.
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While this wine was still good, it should have been consumed 5 years ago. The wine looks ruby colored. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. The body is light/medium. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity.
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Probably should have decanted 2 hours. With only 20 minutes it had not become anything wonderful. It is faded but still had some acid on the tongue. Slight strawberry flavor. Needed a good cheddar to get any enjoyment.
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Another excellent showing by this 1982 Brane! This bottle was in a flight alongside '82 Leovile Barton, '82 Calon Segur, and 1988 Certan de May. The two standouts were this '82 Brane and the '88 CdM, with opinions split on which was better. The Brane had a little brett that added a lot of interest to the wine (lower level than Montrose, but distinctly present). The fruit was perfectly ripe and the age has brought on some sweet maturity. Pretty close to fully resolved - I think this will stay at peak for awhile.
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Dark, dull color with bricking on the rim, muddy. Dried fruit, tobacco, tea leaves aroma. Opened up in about 60 minutes in the bottle. Savory, dark fruit taste on the palate, smooth, flow easy, quick finish, somewhat dull with light acidity and no tannins. Faded after 2 hours.
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Nez bordelais classique. Bouche ultrafine, délivrant des saveurs de cerise, de tabac, et des notes d'élevage en bois très fine. Les tanins sont bien résolus, la matière devient du velours. Dans une bonne fenêtre pour le boire, mais peut-être bientôt sur la pente descendante.
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Nice deep color with only a touch of bricking; very thin at the edge. A slow start, but gained intensity. Aromas of warm stones, leather, dried flower petals and ripe black fruit. Likewise on the palate. Very enjoyable. Always fun to drink wine that's older than I.
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The bouquet gives away, cigar box, mushrooms and soy. A bit sleek but elegant in the mouth with decent fruit levels. Grows more complex and interesting with 1-2 h air time. On it's way down but still vital enough to give a lot of pleasure. Drink up.
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This was my last bottle out of a case of twelve consumed over the past eight years. While the nose remained a little bit muted tonight, the palated opend up after half an hour in the glass, showing a nicely balanced, very harmonious and silky mature Margaux with aromas of rasperry fruit, licorice and coffee mixed with more tertiary aromas of cigar box and some hint of underbrush. Medium, gentle finish. While still a very nice mature Bordeaux, I have found this wine in a slow decline over the past three years. I would recommend drinking up any remaining bottles.
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This is still drinking nicely but I wouldn't hold it any longer. The bouquet is quite nice. It's not as interesting on the palate. Nice flavor but nothing too complex and it fell a little flat.
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Very leafy and herby, mixed with red cassis and oak on the nose. The fruits are still going strong. It displays some green herbs, spices, ripe dark red cassis that is slightly medicinal, tobacco with some noticeable wooden oak framing the foreground. Not exactly interesting and rather 1 dimensional lacking complexity and the Margaux elegance. The finish is also quite short. Feeling abit disappointed in this wine.
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Showing very well. Not one of the very top Margaux in this vintage, but quite respectable, and an excellent '82 Bordeaux. Has nice perfume and super texture. Good to drink now, but not falling off either.
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I think we got it still in "the zone". It retained lovely fruit and still had acidity with nicely relaxed tannins. Good color, nice mouthfeel and still evolving. Advise against decanting, but it didn't oxidize too quickly once opened. Drink now or soon. It's delicious. If you have a bottle with good provenance and storage, enjoy!
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My last bottle of a case purchased on future on release. Decanted at 4 pm and drunk over the next 6+ hours. Medium to dark garnet color with bricking on the edge but nowhere near end of life. Nose is wonderfully complex with earthy, barnyard, fresh cut flowers, mint, leather and black fruit. Mouth feel is round and soft yet weighty and at the same time more feminine. Very well balanced and lively. It dances on the palate. A marvelous match with grilled meat as the flavors include earthy, smokey, meaty and leathery notes along with tea, violets, graphite, and leather. Complex and delicious, very easy to drink. Finish is long and light.
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iNCREDIBLE! this wine has been in my cellar since the 80’s. It was SUPERB. Amazing for a 33 year old wine, although of course those 1982s are hardy. I have one more bottle. I will need to drink it within the next year.
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Could not resist bringing this to a gala wine dinner with wine friends at Hemmingways Restaurant in Oak Park, IL. Among the 15 or 16 offerings were the 1970 and 2000 vintages of this wine presenting the opportunity for a spectacular vertical. The 1982 is still holding its own but was a bit lighter than the other two vintages. Medium garnet color with just a hint of bricking. Nice floral nose. Red fruit, mushroom and a Briton flint on the palate with a medium finish.
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A nice mature claret. Cork didn't hold up and broke in half. Very little sediment. Medium ruby color. On opening, there was a fairly strong barnyard element that faded after 30 minutes; however, it wasn't off-putting at all. The nose was dominated by dried cherry, leather, cigar, brown spices, and faint menthol. Medium-bodied. Tannins are mostly resolved, but still present. Finish a bit attenuated. Every now and then, I could detect a slightly bitter element on the finish, but it was subtle. This is still drinking well, and is one of the better valued '82s.
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Farmyard on nose.Brick The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is heavy sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), forest floor and barnyard. The body is full. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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Deliciously smooth, medium to dark garnet with slightly bricked meniscus. Nose initially very barnyard, then some vanilla, black fruit and leather near the end of the 3 hours we drank it after decanting. Rich black raspberry, black plum, cassis, leather and earthy mushroom flavors. This was so smooth and rich it was almost too easy to drink. My son and I drank a whole bottle over 3 hours with crispy duck confit and almost didn't realize it was gone. Nice long aftertaste. Lovely mature Margaux!
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This always surprises but needs 90 min. To open. Within 30 min the must and funk blows off to reveal a lovely, floral, Margaux nose of lilac. The color and the legs are deceiving. Medium garnet color but consistent throughout with no bricking at the meniscus. Very earthy on the palate but the fruit reveals itself at the 90 min mark. Hang in there with this and you will be rewarded.
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Bottle #11/12. Great, mature Margaux-nose with wood, mushroom, black currants and and licorice. On the palate initially a bit disjointed with acidity dominating fruit. Opened up very nicely after 30min in the decanter, now offering a dense core of pure, sweet black fruit and resolved, mature tannins. Finishes long and gentle. Another excellent bottle. Should hold up well for another 3 - 5 years.
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Absolutely delicious. Rich, luscious, and juicy still. Balanced acidity and tannins, classic woodsy, graphite, and tobacco notes. Still packs some dark fruit tones. Freshness and fruitiness wears off after about an hour of decanting, so don't leave it sitting for too long.
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Bottle was flawed. Cork dried out - overly oxidized. Not really drinkable, but did so anyway. Barely any fruit left - just woody flavors. One bottle left - hopefully like the others I had over the past year which are still drinking OK.
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Cork was red stained and a little spongy but pulled cleanly. Initial musty odor blew off after 15-20 minutes leaving a clean, generously wafting, mature bordeaux nose. Palate was elegant and firm, slightly drying, and medium bodied, with licorice, mushroom and mint. A nice surprise considering all the inconsistent reviews I've seen for this vintage of Brane-Cantenac.
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Je retrouve encore une fois, et avec délices, cette étoile du vin. Il n'a pas l'air de la première jeunesse, mais son insolence faite aux outrages du temps, sa seconde jeunesse, est cachée. Sa robe est une joie, et j'y lave mes yeux... qui en ressortent clairs, sereins, et étincelants. Bref, c'est une merveille.
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Toujours aussi excellent, mais difficile de lui mettre la même "note" après avoir bu hier un Château Margaux 78 grandiose. Mais quelle bouche pleine et ample... de délices.
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-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple days --
NOSE: expressive; old wood furniture; black licorice; obvious aged aromas; hint of TCA(?); a touch vegetal.
BODY: garnet color with considerable bricking at the edges; good cork --- no signs of seepage, soaked ~1/3, with a couple streaks nearly to the top; spinning capsule; btm neck fill; medium bodied.
TASTE: hint of TCA?; definitely on its downslope; dark-fruited; pencil shavings; drying out and thinning out --- probably much better 5 – 8 years ago, for my preferences. I continually flip-flopped on whether this had TCA, which is a good indication that it probably didn’t; rather, this is likely just a fully mature Bordeaux that should be consumed now rather than later.
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Une merveille de pureté, de douceur, de goût et d'élégance. Une longue aération l'ouvre à tout son potentiel. Corsé, épicé, boisé, fruité, excellent. "Un verre de vieux vin est meilleur qu'un nouveau royaume."
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I was slightly concerned about the storage conditions of this bottle before removing the capsule to look at the cork, but all worries subsided when I saw a nearly perfect cork. The color was a beautiful ruby/violet, with only minor oxidation around the edges. Nose was really expressive upon opening, with musty cedar, cigar ash, cherries and crushed flowers. Truly interesting and powerful, and it only got better after an hour in the decanter. The attack on the palate was a little tart, but the fruit and the classic mature Bordeaux flavors are well-integrated and balanced. The mid-palate fell completely short -- it was like the wine disappeared for 3 seconds before coming back in full-force for the finish. It remained on the palate for 45+ second. I've never had a wine that dropped-off in the middle as dramatically. Still, a very good bottle of wine that is still going strong.
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This was the tenth bottle out of a case of 12. All bottles consumed over the last four years have been truly great whitout any flaws, a fact that I mainly attribute to the impeccable cork quality used at Brane-Cantenac throughout the last four decades or so. This particular bottle had a great Margaux-nose with all kinds of crushed flowers, black currants and and notes of licorice. Very mild on the palate, with completely resolved tannins and a dense core of very pure, sweet fruit. Finishes long and gentle. I love this stuff!
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Decanted and drank over 3 hours. Surprisingly evolved in color and on the palate. Light pretty nose of mint, sweet red fruit and earth. Great balance, silky texture with nice grip on the finish. Very nice.
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We had this on Christmas Eve with a rack of lamb. Decanted shortly before opening (c1hr). Clear, little or no sediment, bottle age clear in brownish/red hue. Nose is expressive with cedar wood, a little spice, very clean nose, no funk. Great palate - still a little residual fruit but the secondary flavours are all here now, more of the cedar, fig and a touch of sous bois. Really classy finish, tannins well resolved by this point - I could smell and sip this wine all day! A really nice, classically styled, mature claret probably at or near its peak but I wouldn't suggest urgency in drinking, if you're minded to hold a little longer.
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Dan turns 30, We drink 82s (Keens Steakhouse): A really lovely classic claret. Aromas leap out of the glass with plenty of cassis, slightly redder in tone than the PLL, a bit cedary, nice florals.. A wine that goes for elegance rather than power, but with impressive intensity given the lighter frame. The only demerit here is that there's not quite enough concentration left to buffer the tannins and it's starting to dry out slightly. Drink up.
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Clear, garnet with white rim Floral, perfumed, cooked dark fruits on the nose. Palate: balanced, soft & sweet tannins, perfumed , floral, acacia, cooked jammy dark fruits, complex medium body medium finish very mature
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Dégustation de la SCO au complet 2012 (Paris 12e, France): Robe moins brunie que le 1985. Premier nez de menthol, puis vient le fruit macéré. En bouche il est plus animal, musqué et sa structure tient davantage. Le millésime l'a porté à travers ces décennies, la longueur est belle et il peut tenir encore quelques années.
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From 75cl, a pristine bottle of impeccable provenance, not moved between 1985 and 2011, fill into neck. A little solid crystalline deposit, decanted clear. Perfect cork, 1/3 stained. Mature orange bricking to rim, but very substantial dark red body. Decanted 1 hour, drank over 2 hours, best at very end. Boy, this is a wonderful mature 2nd growth Margaux. Entirely linear from the gently spiced (more oak than cedar, a touch of raw leather) aroma through the gentle, rainwater texture of the entry, the gradual gain of tannins through the sweet mid-palate (don't start nagging me to define fruits... possibly highly refined blackberry rumtopf?) on to the very long, seamless finish, slightly anaesthetising the tongue with a kind of star anis spicy sweetness. No this isn't a gob-smackingly "great wine", but it is genial, perfect in its way, a bench-mark for purity, longevity and half a dozen other virtues I don't want to rack my brains for in the glorious wash of this 29.5-year-old's beautiful, resonant, minutes-long aftertaste. 93P
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Lovely mature Bordeaux. Decanted for about 30 min. Aroma of lilac and other floral notes. Long mouth fill with overtones of dark berry and cassis. Full of fruit still and well balanced. Silky tannins. Surprisingly good after a brief decant. May have been letting this breathe too long in the past. Served at a gala family Christmas Eve dinner at Sullivan's in downtown Chicago. Served side by side with an '84 Montrose and an '89 Haut Batailley representing each boy's birth year.
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Beautiful mature Bordeaux with medium deep but bright garnet colour with typical Margaux aromatics with cedar, leather, and animal notes along the dried fruit and sweet spice. Lively in the mouth with good structure, very satisfying depth of flavour and finish and some very refreshing and food-friendly acidity. Excellent wine, can keep for a long time still. (Drank from half-bottle with my friend Yiannis)
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From 375 ml bottle. Popped and poured. Medium garnet-brick. Lovely aged Margaux fragrance, with ripe berries, cherries, noble animal scents, wild flowers and hints of cedar. Medium-bodied, seamless, with silky tannins, bright fruit and balancing acidity. Long aftertaste. Extremely elegant wine, with a long life ahead.
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Still holding up well. Brick color evident as expected around the rim. Took a bit over two hours for the mustiness to blow off, opening to some really delicate lilac and lavender notes on the nose. Still ample fruit on the palate, blackberry and cassis, but muted. All in all, a still drinkable and excellent representation of an old world Margaux.
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Dark purple color, little evidence of bricking. Light floral overtones on the nose but subdued. Leather, tobacco and some cedar on the palate outweigh the red fruit flavors. Still good but showing some age. Served with festive barbecue ribs, pork and chicken while watching July 4 fireworks from 10th floor rooftop in Manhattan.
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Procured several bottles of impeccable provenance through a private cellar sale, and popped one on a whim last night. Was shocked at how fresh and full of fruit it was immediately after uncorking. Cedar, graphite and a little funk on the nose, but it just screamed Margaux to me (caveat - my allergies were so bad when I opened, it was hard for me to appreciate). Lots of life left in the wine; fine, soft tannins lingering afterward. Was shocked at total lack of sediment in the bottle. Overall, was delighted with the wine - it's clearly as mature as it's going to get, but there is life left in this old bird and I'm in no rush to immediately open the other two I bought. Terrific old Bordeaux.
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Typical Bordeaux nose of cedar and tobacco after decanting for 1 hour. So very smooth with a soft finish. Wine may have been enhanced because of the meal and surroundings at Scarpetta Restaurant and the two whites we had beforehand ;-). I wish I had more!
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Opened with nice floral notes as expected from a Margaux, but pleasantly surprised given the age. Dark purple in color. Still drinking well with very tempered tanins and some berry still left. Typical old world Bordeaux with leather, mushroom and cedar. Opened at gala rehearsal dinner for Will and Kate at Starkers in KC. Will's birth year wine shared with Rick, Linda, Rusty, Ann, Greg, Marcia and Beth.
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Dark inky color - medium bodied - graceful, elegant with floral aromas predominate with a classic bordeaux leather tobacco undercurrent accenting the black and red berry fruits. Decanted for an hour - opened initially and then closed slightly after a couple hours. Five years still left in this 28 year old.
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Very drinkable as expected. The fruit on the nose has moderated over time. There is still some dark berry on the palette giving way to a nicely balanced wine with floral notes. Third bottle in the last six months and all have been remarkably consistent.
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30 min decant with surprisongly little deposit. Tremendously gamey but harmonious nose. Slightly earthy but fantastic melange of secondary characteristics coming through on the mellow palate. slightly wild and untamed with muted fruit but plenty of pencil lead and mulch going on. Nicely balanced. An excellent reminder of what a great vintage this was on the left bank, although if I have a criticism it's that wild and crazy Brane-Cantenac profile laid bare.
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Bordeaux Verticals (Oslo): The final bottle. The discussion had become more philosophical than wine-centered. I only noticed that it had become a bit short, but was still a pleasant, soft drink.
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Second to the last bottle purchased from Monoprix in 2002. Mid to high neck fill level. Did not decant but drink over a few hours period. Aromas of chocolate and tobacco. Brownish color indicate maturity. Medium to full bodied, taste of chocolate, tobacco, leather and mushroom on the palate. Slightly acidic and soft on the finish. A very enjoyable Margaux.
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Wonderfull mature Bordeaux at an afforable price. No concessions. A very fine and faultless wine. Transparent bright red colour and a bouquet that unfolds as time passes. A medium to light bodied wine, seamless in the mouth, what one could expect aromaticaly from a vintage such as '82 from a margaux (cantenac) wine. An Underrated wine of great finesse. Great pleasure!
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A wine definitely showing its age - brown, tawny in appearance. Wine took a long time to open up, after which we got notes of tobacco, yeast, blackberry, slightly burnt toast. The palate was much fruitier than the nose, with raspberry, cherry, strawberry. Very soft tannins and mid acidity. Must be time to drink up.
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I approached this wine with some trepidation; the cork was soaked and moldy, but did come off in one piece. I was struck by the vivid orange-ness, as I decanted the wine. The volatile acids got my salivary glands going. Decanted for 4 hours- and it needed every bit of that. Initial nose of chalk-limestone partly gave way to trouffles, milky chocolate and damp forest. Medium density on the palate, savoury with some dark berries that came to the fore hours after decanting. Not much of a finish, but overall, a very pleasant, mature claret, that went well with roulade of Pekin duck breast with creamed sweet white corn and Morel mushroom sauce. Happy thanksgiving!
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Level at bottom of neck. Cork saturated but still very firm. Transparent orange rim and red/brown robe. Deep, rewarding bouquet of blood, bramble, soil and flint, with hints of toast, bonfire toffee, licorice root and blackcurrant. Fruit increased noticeably after 4+ hours of air. More brambly fruit on the palate (again increasing and becoming more sweet with time) plus lots of mineral (iron, flint). Good vibrant acidity, lighter-side of medium body and with little or no noticeable tannin. Last glass much sweeter than the first. Beautiful long mineral finish that gives plently of time to reflect on a wonderfully balanced mouthful. One of my favourite bottles so far this year.
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high shoulder/low neck fill. cork was firm and tight fitting but fractured mid-shank on extraction. cork fully saturated but no signs of ullage. overall bottle condition not as favorable as the last one consumed. however, the wine has held up better than expected. brown tinge to dark garnet color is more noticeable. the nose is still forward but a little less robust. fully mature, probaby in early stages of decline based on the fact that the flavor profile is not quite as flourishing as it was 10 months ago. nevertheless, for the benefit of those still holding bottles, i am extending longevity one more year. brane cantenac has had its ups and downs but it continues to be one of my favorites and this bottle was no exception.
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A legendary vintage, but not sure this is the best example of it. Very watery rim. Rusty / browny red in appearance. Notes of metallic and tobacco on the nose. Wine was surprisingly fruity - lots of strawberry. Became much more fruity the next day.
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A very brown rim and it looked very mature. A distinctive nose of barnyard, chickenshit, cassis and some dark druit. It had some acidic feeling to the nose. The taste was a bit thin with cassis, red currant, dark fruit and in the finish some green tannins.
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see tasting note of 12/14/2005 for more details. this bottle was in better condition. full fill. minimal liquid penetration of an intact cork. no back pressure. nose jumps from the bottle. good color. the wine was a bit restrained for about 1/2 an hour. then opened with a flourish of fruit. the wine is fully integrated with great finesse. not a powerhouse but great majesty. will save the last bottle for the chill winds in the fall. don't think this will last a great deal longer. this bottle was imported by wildman and shipped by borie-manoux. (names associated with other great wine properties.
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such divergent opinion on this wine. i must be the voice of reason and moderation. readers, however, must take into account my bias. brane cantenac was one of my pleasant introductory experiences to wine while i was courting my bride to be. we enjoyed 1964, 1967 and 1970 vintages in rapid succession. purchased later vintages that are still resting in the cellar. this wine was highly rated on release and was produced in a great year. surprising, then to read other reviews with such negative comments. i must disagree with those who found it watery, etc. this bottle was bottom neck fill. liquid penetration of cork to within 1/8th inch of top. cork split mid shank upon extraction. some back pressure on cork indicating volatility. this wine is best on the nose which arose directly out of the bottle upon opening. unequivocally the unique nose of brane-cantenac. stayed strong and even built somewhat in the glass for 20 minutes. color was deep garnet with no browning or thinning at the edge. legs coat the glass. tannins are present but are not obtrusive. fruit is a little faded. finish is short. probably would have been better a few years ago. will try the rest soon and hope for the best. thinking back, the 1989 was probably better than the 82.
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Tasted like a nice old claret when first opened - went great with a roast chicken, but after an hour it fell apart completely. It picked up a sour taste - the last 1/3 of the bottle went down the sink.
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NobleRottersSydney - Bordeaux v Australia (Lucio's, Paddington): The Brane was brick red with a faintly ornage rim. An archetypal aged Bordeaux nose, with lead pencil and dried cedary aromas predominating. It’s very soft on the palate – not dried out, but only medium weight at best – a real old fashioned ‘claret’. Is certainly in its ‘drink now’ stage – there’s nowhere for this to go.
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Lovely, mature appearance; good depth, game, spices, oak and fresh fruit; typical 1982-style, relatively firm Merlot, soft and ripe acidity, melting tannins, juicy; good length. At peak, very good but not outstanding.
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With K at home at dinner (Pasta del Sol). Brilliant medium red. No sign of age, but looks ready. Nose shows plenty of berry scents, spicy oak. On the palate, very pleasant wine. Medium body, minimal tannins. Round and supple, red licorice flavor. Fairly complex. Nicely integrated oak. 5-10-16-7: 88/100.
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At the French restaurant in the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City with Mitch Meyer at dinner, on our trip to transfer the ETSI case to our firm from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Recommended by the sommelier, it was exquisite. Very fine perfume, elegant, flavory. A great wine.
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12/19/2023 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Mature and earthy concentrated blackberry; textured with long elegant finish.
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11/19/2023 - Cailles wrote: 89 Points
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: Sadly, this bottle wasn’t particularly good. While there was still some life left on the nose, the palate was thin and with barely any fruit left. Nothing to write home about. Still, 89pts for the good nose displaying intense dark berries, crushed rocks, herbal notes and fine burnt sugar notes.
Decanting: Not decanted. I don’t think that more air would have changed things here but maybe this wasn’t a representative bottle.
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9/10/2023 - J_H Likes this wine: 91 Points
Vertical of 20 vintages - Chateau Brane-Cantenac: It was a pleasure to taste 20 vintages of Brane-Cantenac. All wines were tasted blind and with little time (10min per flight of 4 wines). Coming from the Margaux appellation, the wine convinced 1) with its accessibility of all vintages, 2) often very feminine and fresh vinification and 3) especially the consistency of quality to be emphasized. So it was not surprising that all 20 bottles (for the first time in this tasting with 12 people) were empty. At the same time, it could also be noted that the very great complexity for ratings above 94 points is often somewhat lacking. Very exciting to observe were the significant change in fruit. Until the 2009 vintage, this was often primarily red-fruited, light and very strongly Cabernet influenced. From the 2009 vintage on, a clear shift to more extraction and sweetness of the fruit is noticeable. The last, often great vintages from 2015 to 2020 are ripe but still with a good freshness/acidity (except for 2015 according to my impression).
Tasting Note:
- First notes of maturity apparent, delicate red fruit behind, very spicy, classic pepper / cabernet notes with the wood in the background. Is very accessible.
- More advanced on the palate, has flavors of forest floor, underbrush, bayberries. But somehow is not very complex either, the fruit is a bit thin and not round enough, has some rough edges. Nice acidity structure.
- 91-92 points
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6/4/2023 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
This was lovely, many character traits of the 82 vintage. Pasty fruit, pen ink, and silky resolves tannins. This was fabulous.
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6/3/2023 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid bottle with good cork, high shoulder fill. Terrific nose of tobacco, leather and cedar notes. Still quite fresh and expressive. Mature tertiary fruits on the palate that show a pleasant fullness. Finish is moderate, with just a tincture of austerity and bitterness on the back end keeping this from being at the next level.
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3/3/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Commanderie de Bordeaux: Spring Parlement - Chateau Brane-Cantenac (Minneapolis Club, Mpls, MN): Dark red colr with a 7mm transition. Splash double decanted; drank a glass over an hour. Very open nose with red fruits; cherry, wild strawberry, dried violet, iodine like minerality, subtle chocolate, dried leaves, just a little volatility at times. Soft with red and black fruit on the palate, less fruit than one would expect with mineral and dried earth dominant. Really though, quite a lovely wine, fully mature and integrated, not a blockbuster '82 - at least not this bottle, but thoroughly pleasurable. 91+pt and delivering more charm than that. Rank '00, '78, '89, '82.
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1/13/2023 - Sean Tay wrote: 93 Points
Pronounced nose with earth, mushroom, cooked black fruits. Medium acidity and medium tannin.
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11/11/2022 - paulst wrote: 92 Points
Light earth and tobacco; funny nose; smooth; soft blackberry and elegant; sweet finish.
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10/22/2022 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pronounced nose with earth, mushroom, cooked red and black fruits. Medium acidity and medium tannin. Tannin is integrated. Did not decant and serve from bottle. Its at the best showing and probably will not improve with further cellaring.
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7/3/2022 - Wine Canuck wrote: 93 Points
An Epic Summer Wine Weekend; 7/1/2022-7/3/2022 (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada): This pours light garnet in the glass, with medium minus bricking. The nose is not quite as expressive as the wine poured previously, though the fruit is fresher. The nose is of mushroom, tobacco, dark cherry, celery seed, wet soil, violet, plum, and graphite. Really nice. The palate enters on the bright and sweet plummy fruit, then violets, the acid is medium plus, the tannin is medium. The finish doesn't linger quite as long as I might like, but what's there is really pretty and again is focused on plums and violets. This wine is very classically Margaux.
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6/27/2022 - invineform Likes this wine: 90 Points
Was delicious - classic floral Margaux with refined leather and black fruits; super smooth. Sediment not excessive. Possibly drunk this 5 years too late but it was my only one!
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2/22/2022 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Smooth lean and elegant; light blackberry; resolved tannin; long sweet finish.
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9/14/2021 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very well done; near perfect harmony; earth, manura and leather; lean and balanced blackberry with soft tannins and an elegant long finish.
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8/27/2021 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind. Mature medoc nose with underbrush, spices, leather. Good mid mouth presence, balanced, good ripeness. This is in nice shape still.
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7/12/2021 - KenK Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mature, but offers up some depth of flavors in a briary rustic way. Good underlying ripeness remains showing a nice flavor profile with fully integrated acid backbone. Well last prime, but still offers up some pleasure too.
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7/10/2021 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earth and manura; light blackberry; light semi-sweet finish.
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5/26/2021 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rubber and tar; soft integrated tannin; soft mocha with blackberry; balanced; faded after an hour; sweet elegant finish.
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5/5/2021 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rubber nose; layered and smooth; integrated; soft and elegant; long sweet finish.
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2/12/2021 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Leather; plumey blackberry; full; sweet finish.
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1/10/2021 - paulst Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light nose; concentrated; fruit forward; soft tannin; light finish.
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12/30/2020 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light earthy blackberry nose; smooth and layered; elegant; balanced; soft melted tannin; perfect harmony; long sweet blackberrry-currant finish.
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8/15/2020 - paulst Likes this wine: 97 Points
Cork was loose and dark; in great shape; leather and earth; sweet elegant cedar blackberry; balanced; complex; smooth velvety tannin; long elegant silky finish.
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2/23/2020 - Nels+ Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sehr schön und klassich gereift. 1982 erstaunt mich immer wieder und Brane ist wirklich eine sichere Bank
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2/7/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Wines for the Acker Merrall Bicentennial Auction (The Pool - New York NY): Small glass, brief note. Good, rich but clearing getting tired.
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1/2/2020 - Burgundywine wrote:
A bit past its peak, I think. (Jan 2016). 1988 and 89 drinking better right now.
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6/30/2019 - chuckos77 wrote: 88 Points
Interesting wine, needed a long decant to wake up. Never made it to a good profile. Dull wine but not sure it was ever spectacular. Wine had held up but it isn’t worth holding on to.
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4/21/2019 - jcbodin Likes this wine: 86 Points
While this wine was still good, it should have been consumed 5 years ago.
The wine looks ruby colored. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. The body is light/medium. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity.
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3/27/2019 - "Rhône Rider" wrote: flawed
Litt grumsete, brunrød. Våt ull, aviser og litt frukt på nese. Ukurrant flaske.
Corked
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3/10/2019 - Radio60 wrote: 89 Points
Probably should have decanted 2 hours. With only 20 minutes it had not become anything wonderful. It is faded but still had some acid on the tongue. Slight strawberry flavor. Needed a good cheddar to get any enjoyment.
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12/16/2018 - fozzibaer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Held up better than expected! Good!
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11/11/2018 - Blair Curtis wrote: 92 Points
Another excellent showing by this 1982 Brane! This bottle was in a flight alongside '82 Leovile Barton, '82 Calon Segur, and 1988 Certan de May. The two standouts were this '82 Brane and the '88 CdM, with opinions split on which was better. The Brane had a little brett that added a lot of interest to the wine (lower level than Montrose, but distinctly present). The fruit was perfectly ripe and the age has brought on some sweet maturity. Pretty close to fully resolved - I think this will stay at peak for awhile.
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8/18/2018 - NathanT wrote: 90 Points
Dark, dull color with bricking on the rim, muddy. Dried fruit, tobacco, tea leaves aroma. Opened up in about 60 minutes in the bottle. Savory, dark fruit taste on the palate, smooth, flow easy, quick finish, somewhat dull with light acidity and no tannins. Faded after 2 hours.
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2/10/2017 - Chaz Bham wrote: 92 Points
Nez bordelais classique. Bouche ultrafine, délivrant des saveurs de cerise, de tabac, et des notes d'élevage en bois très fine. Les tanins sont bien résolus, la matière devient du velours.
Dans une bonne fenêtre pour le boire, mais peut-être bientôt sur la pente descendante.
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12/25/2016 - midgetsun Likes this wine:
Nice deep color with only a touch of bricking; very thin at the edge. A slow start, but gained intensity. Aromas of warm stones, leather, dried flower petals and ripe black fruit. Likewise on the palate. Very enjoyable. Always fun to drink wine that's older than I.
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11/18/2016 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The bouquet gives away, cigar box, mushrooms and soy. A bit sleek but elegant in the mouth with decent fruit levels. Grows more complex and interesting with 1-2 h air time. On it's way down but still vital enough to give a lot of pleasure. Drink up.
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10/3/2016 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was my last bottle out of a case of twelve consumed over the past eight years. While the nose remained a little bit muted tonight, the palated opend up after half an hour in the glass, showing a nicely balanced, very harmonious and silky mature Margaux with aromas of rasperry fruit, licorice and coffee mixed with more tertiary aromas of cigar box and some hint of underbrush. Medium, gentle finish. While still a very nice mature Bordeaux, I have found this wine in a slow decline over the past three years. I would recommend drinking up any remaining bottles.
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10/2/2016 - whybuyone Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is still drinking nicely but I wouldn't hold it any longer. The bouquet is quite nice. It's not as interesting on the palate. Nice flavor but nothing too complex and it fell a little flat.
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7/16/2016 - Wardyn wrote: 88 Points
Very leafy and herby, mixed with red cassis and oak on the nose. The fruits are still going strong. It displays some green herbs, spices, ripe dark red cassis that is slightly medicinal, tobacco with some noticeable wooden oak framing the foreground. Not exactly interesting and rather 1 dimensional lacking complexity and the Margaux elegance. The finish is also quite short. Feeling abit disappointed in this wine.
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3/22/2016 - Legend38 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose: dried cherries, blackberry and plum. Tea, lots of tree bark and smoked pork.
Taste: Apple skins, dried red fruits like cherry and raspberry. Still getting the tea, strong oak and a little caramel. Nice tannins. Medium finish.
Bought this on a whim to drink on my birthday and I'm not disappointed.
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3/2/2016 - Blair Curtis wrote: 92 Points
Showing very well. Not one of the very top Margaux in this vintage, but quite respectable, and an excellent '82 Bordeaux. Has nice perfume and super texture. Good to drink now, but not falling off either.
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12/19/2015 - vegasoenophile Likes this wine: 95 Points
I think we got it still in "the zone". It retained lovely fruit and still had acidity with nicely relaxed tannins. Good color, nice mouthfeel and still evolving. Advise against decanting, but it didn't oxidize too quickly once opened. Drink now or soon. It's delicious. If you have a bottle with good provenance and storage, enjoy!
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11/14/2015 - oldwines Likes this wine: 95 Points
My last bottle of a case purchased on future on release. Decanted at 4 pm and drunk over the next 6+ hours. Medium to dark garnet color with bricking on the edge but nowhere near end of life. Nose is wonderfully complex with earthy, barnyard, fresh cut flowers, mint, leather and black fruit. Mouth feel is round and soft yet weighty and at the same time more feminine. Very well balanced and lively. It dances on the palate. A marvelous match with grilled meat as the flavors include earthy, smokey, meaty and leathery notes along with tea, violets, graphite, and leather. Complex and delicious, very easy to drink. Finish is long and light.
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10/18/2015 - RicardoLevy Likes this wine: 97 Points
iNCREDIBLE! this wine has been in my cellar since the 80’s. It was SUPERB. Amazing for a 33 year old wine, although of course those 1982s are hardy. I have one more bottle. I will need to drink it within the next year.
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10/11/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rubber and blackberry; elegant and earthy; Margaux terrior expressive; nice balance and long finish.
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10/10/2015 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Could not resist bringing this to a gala wine dinner with wine friends at Hemmingways Restaurant in Oak Park, IL. Among the 15 or 16 offerings were the 1970 and 2000 vintages of this wine presenting the opportunity for a spectacular vertical. The 1982 is still holding its own but was a bit lighter than the other two vintages. Medium garnet color with just a hint of bricking. Nice floral nose. Red fruit, mushroom and a Briton flint on the palate with a medium finish.
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9/6/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cedar with hints of tar; elegant and rather light and lean; earth; blackberry; nice easy finish.
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8/10/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 92 Points
A nice mature claret. Cork didn't hold up and broke in half. Very little sediment. Medium ruby color. On opening, there was a fairly strong barnyard element that faded after 30 minutes; however, it wasn't off-putting at all. The nose was dominated by dried cherry, leather, cigar, brown spices, and faint menthol. Medium-bodied. Tannins are mostly resolved, but still present. Finish a bit attenuated. Every now and then, I could detect a slightly bitter element on the finish, but it was subtle. This is still drinking well, and is one of the better valued '82s.
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8/8/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Austere with a mature composition; some mocha with mature blackberry.
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8/2/2015 - walsht wrote:
Farmyard on nose.Brick
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is heavy sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), forest floor and barnyard. The body is full. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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4/20/2015 - PT insurgent wrote:
Nose of blackcurrant, woody, plum, cedar, earth, leather.
Palate is sweet cassis, plum, chocolate, cedar, spice, mint, leather, tobacco, smoky, cigarette, earthy, dirt.
Very tertiary, strong notes of sweet cassis.
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2/7/2015 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deliciously smooth, medium to dark garnet with slightly bricked meniscus. Nose initially very barnyard, then some vanilla, black fruit and leather near the end of the 3 hours we drank it after decanting. Rich black raspberry, black plum, cassis, leather and earthy mushroom flavors. This was so smooth and rich it was almost too easy to drink. My son and I drank a whole bottle over 3 hours with crispy duck confit and almost didn't realize it was gone. Nice long aftertaste. Lovely mature Margaux!
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10/19/2014 - wconnolly wrote: 90 Points
This always surprises but needs 90 min. To open. Within 30 min the must and funk blows off to reveal a lovely, floral, Margaux nose of lilac. The color and the legs are deceiving. Medium garnet color but consistent throughout with no bricking at the meniscus. Very earthy on the palate but the fruit reveals itself at the 90 min mark. Hang in there with this and you will be rewarded.
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8/11/2014 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bottle #11/12. Great, mature Margaux-nose with wood, mushroom, black currants and and licorice. On the palate initially a bit disjointed with acidity dominating fruit. Opened up very nicely after 30min in the decanter, now offering a dense core of pure, sweet black fruit and resolved, mature tannins. Finishes long and gentle. Another excellent bottle. Should hold up well for another 3 - 5 years.
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7/17/2014 - redwineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely delicious. Rich, luscious, and juicy still. Balanced acidity and tannins, classic woodsy, graphite, and tobacco notes. Still packs some dark fruit tones. Freshness and fruitiness wears off after about an hour of decanting, so don't leave it sitting for too long.
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5/10/2014 - meqoubal36 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Toujours excellent, mûr, dense et long et suave et délicieux...
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3/22/2014 - DRK III wrote: flawed
Bottle was flawed. Cork dried out - overly oxidized. Not really drinkable, but did so anyway. Barely any fruit left - just woody flavors. One bottle left - hopefully like the others I had over the past year which are still drinking OK.
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3/1/2014 - ArtF Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cork was red stained and a little spongy but pulled cleanly. Initial musty odor blew off after 15-20 minutes leaving a clean, generously wafting, mature bordeaux nose. Palate was elegant and firm, slightly drying, and medium bodied, with licorice, mushroom and mint. A nice surprise considering all the inconsistent reviews I've seen for this vintage of Brane-Cantenac.
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2/8/2014 - meqoubal36 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Je retrouve encore une fois, et avec délices, cette étoile du vin. Il n'a pas l'air de la première jeunesse, mais son insolence faite aux outrages du temps, sa seconde jeunesse, est cachée. Sa robe est une joie, et j'y lave mes yeux... qui en ressortent clairs, sereins, et étincelants. Bref, c'est une merveille.
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1/24/2014 - meqoubal36 Likes this wine: 93 Points
J ele retrouve bien là, l'excellent vin.
Encore trois bouteilles ! Merveille !
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1/18/2014 - meqoubal36 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Toujours aussi excellent, mais difficile de lui mettre la même "note" après avoir bu hier un Château Margaux 78 grandiose. Mais quelle bouche pleine et ample... de délices.
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10/11/2013 - grafstrb wrote:
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over a couple days --
NOSE: expressive; old wood furniture; black licorice; obvious aged aromas; hint of TCA(?); a touch vegetal.
BODY: garnet color with considerable bricking at the edges; good cork --- no signs of seepage, soaked ~1/3, with a couple streaks nearly to the top; spinning capsule; btm neck fill; medium bodied.
TASTE: hint of TCA?; definitely on its downslope; dark-fruited; pencil shavings; drying out and thinning out --- probably much better 5 – 8 years ago, for my preferences. I continually flip-flopped on whether this had TCA, which is a good indication that it probably didn’t; rather, this is likely just a fully mature Bordeaux that should be consumed now rather than later.
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5/18/2013 - meqoubal36 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Une merveille de pureté, de douceur, de goût et d'élégance. Une longue aération l'ouvre à tout son potentiel. Corsé, épicé, boisé, fruité, excellent.
"Un verre de vieux vin est meilleur qu'un nouveau royaume."
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3/30/2013 - CManthei wrote: 91 Points
I was slightly concerned about the storage conditions of this bottle before removing the capsule to look at the cork, but all worries subsided when I saw a nearly perfect cork. The color was a beautiful ruby/violet, with only minor oxidation around the edges. Nose was really expressive upon opening, with musty cedar, cigar ash, cherries and crushed flowers. Truly interesting and powerful, and it only got better after an hour in the decanter. The attack on the palate was a little tart, but the fruit and the classic mature Bordeaux flavors are well-integrated and balanced. The mid-palate fell completely short -- it was like the wine disappeared for 3 seconds before coming back in full-force for the finish. It remained on the palate for 45+ second. I've never had a wine that dropped-off in the middle as dramatically. Still, a very good bottle of wine that is still going strong.
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3/25/2013 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was the tenth bottle out of a case of 12. All bottles consumed over the last four years have been truly great whitout any flaws, a fact that I mainly attribute to the impeccable cork quality used at Brane-Cantenac throughout the last four decades or so. This particular bottle had a great Margaux-nose with all kinds of crushed flowers, black currants and and notes of licorice. Very mild on the palate, with completely resolved tannins and a dense core of very pure, sweet fruit. Finishes long and gentle. I love this stuff!
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2/3/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and drank over 3 hours. Surprisingly evolved in color and on the palate. Light pretty nose of mint, sweet red fruit and earth. Great balance, silky texture with nice grip on the finish. Very nice.
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12/24/2012 - Nohedes wrote: 93 Points
We had this on Christmas Eve with a rack of lamb. Decanted shortly before opening (c1hr). Clear, little or no sediment, bottle age clear in brownish/red hue. Nose is expressive with cedar wood, a little spice, very clean nose, no funk. Great palate - still a little residual fruit but the secondary flavours are all here now, more of the cedar, fig and a touch of sous bois. Really classy finish, tannins well resolved by this point - I could smell and sip this wine all day! A really nice, classically styled, mature claret probably at or near its peak but I wouldn't suggest urgency in drinking, if you're minded to hold a little longer.
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9/22/2012 - coremill wrote: 92 Points
Dan turns 30, We drink 82s (Keens Steakhouse): A really lovely classic claret. Aromas leap out of the glass with plenty of cassis, slightly redder in tone than the PLL, a bit cedary, nice florals.. A wine that goes for elegance rather than power, but with impressive intensity given the lighter frame. The only demerit here is that there's not quite enough concentration left to buffer the tannins and it's starting to dry out slightly. Drink up.
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8/1/2012 - Veritas 53 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear, garnet with white rim
Floral, perfumed, cooked dark fruits on the nose.
Palate: balanced, soft & sweet tannins, perfumed , floral, acacia, cooked jammy dark fruits, complex medium body medium finish very mature
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5/8/2012 - stadler Likes this wine:
Dégustation de la SCO au complet 2012 (Paris 12e, France): Robe moins brunie que le 1985. Premier nez de menthol, puis vient le fruit macéré. En bouche il est plus animal, musqué et sa structure tient davantage. Le millésime l'a porté à travers ces décennies, la longueur est belle et il peut tenir encore quelques années.
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1/22/2012 - abh wrote:
Basically dead. Not sure if this is the bottle - which wasn't unambiguously flawed - or the state of the wine now. Shame.
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1/7/2012 - honest bob wrote: 93 Points
From 75cl, a pristine bottle of impeccable provenance, not moved between 1985 and 2011, fill into neck. A little solid crystalline deposit, decanted clear. Perfect cork, 1/3 stained. Mature orange bricking to rim, but very substantial dark red body. Decanted 1 hour, drank over 2 hours, best at very end. Boy, this is a wonderful mature 2nd growth Margaux. Entirely linear from the gently spiced (more oak than cedar, a touch of raw leather) aroma through the gentle, rainwater texture of the entry, the gradual gain of tannins through the sweet mid-palate (don't start nagging me to define fruits... possibly highly refined blackberry rumtopf?) on to the very long, seamless finish, slightly anaesthetising the tongue with a kind of star anis spicy sweetness. No this isn't a gob-smackingly "great wine", but it is genial, perfect in its way, a bench-mark for purity, longevity and half a dozen other virtues I don't want to rack my brains for in the glorious wash of this 29.5-year-old's beautiful, resonant, minutes-long aftertaste. 93P
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12/28/2011 - mhurford wrote: 94 Points
Gamey, farmyard nose but still fresh - delicious mature bordeaux
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12/25/2011 - wconnolly wrote: 92 Points
Lovely mature Bordeaux. Decanted for about 30 min. Aroma of lilac and other floral notes. Long mouth fill with overtones of dark berry and cassis. Full of fruit still and well balanced. Silky tannins. Surprisingly good after a brief decant. May have been letting this breathe too long in the past. Served at a gala family Christmas Eve dinner at Sullivan's in downtown Chicago. Served side by side with an '84 Montrose and an '89 Haut Batailley representing each boy's birth year.
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9/29/2011 - Stefanos T. wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful mature Bordeaux with medium deep but bright garnet colour with typical Margaux aromatics with cedar, leather, and animal notes along the dried fruit and sweet spice. Lively in the mouth with good structure, very satisfying depth of flavour and finish and some very refreshing and food-friendly acidity. Excellent wine, can keep for a long time still. (Drank from half-bottle with my friend Yiannis)
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9/28/2011 - Yiannis wrote: 94 Points
From 375 ml bottle. Popped and poured. Medium garnet-brick. Lovely aged Margaux fragrance, with ripe berries, cherries, noble animal scents, wild flowers and hints of cedar. Medium-bodied, seamless, with silky tannins, bright fruit and balancing acidity. Long aftertaste. Extremely elegant wine, with a long life ahead.
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9/3/2011 - wconnolly wrote: 90 Points
Still holding up well. Brick color evident as expected around the rim. Took a bit over two hours for the mustiness to blow off, opening to some really delicate lilac and lavender notes on the nose. Still ample fruit on the palate, blackberry and cassis, but muted. All in all, a still drinkable and excellent representation of an old world Margaux.
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7/21/2011 - BillyT wrote: 90 Points
While this wine was very good it could not hold up against the 1982 L'Evangile or the 1964 LaTour
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7/4/2011 - wconnolly wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple color, little evidence of bricking. Light floral overtones on the nose but subdued. Leather, tobacco and some cedar on the palate outweigh the red fruit flavors. Still good but showing some age. Served with festive barbecue ribs, pork and chicken while watching July 4 fireworks from 10th floor rooftop in Manhattan.
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7/2/2011 - jcvalenti Likes this wine: 92 Points
Procured several bottles of impeccable provenance through a private cellar sale, and popped one on a whim last night. Was shocked at how fresh and full of fruit it was immediately after uncorking. Cedar, graphite and a little funk on the nose, but it just screamed Margaux to me (caveat - my allergies were so bad when I opened, it was hard for me to appreciate). Lots of life left in the wine; fine, soft tannins lingering afterward. Was shocked at total lack of sediment in the bottle. Overall, was delighted with the wine - it's clearly as mature as it's going to get, but there is life left in this old bird and I'm in no rush to immediately open the other two I bought. Terrific old Bordeaux.
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1/24/2011 - floating_cellar wrote: 88 Points
Surprising depth of fruit still left in this bottle. Expected much less based on Parkers 9/02 tasting note. Wouldn't hold onto this any longer though.
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12/22/2010 - bvanbower wrote: 89 Points
Typical Bordeaux nose of cedar and tobacco after decanting for 1 hour. So very smooth with a soft finish. Wine may have been enhanced because of the meal and surroundings at Scarpetta Restaurant and the two whites we had beforehand ;-). I wish I had more!
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5/28/2010 - wconnolly wrote: 88 Points
Opened with nice floral notes as expected from a Margaux, but pleasantly surprised given the age. Dark purple in color. Still drinking well with very tempered tanins and some berry still left. Typical old world Bordeaux with leather, mushroom and cedar. Opened at gala rehearsal dinner for Will and Kate at Starkers in KC. Will's birth year wine shared with Rick, Linda, Rusty, Ann, Greg, Marcia and Beth.
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5/28/2010 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
Dark inky color - medium bodied - graceful, elegant with floral aromas predominate with a classic bordeaux leather tobacco undercurrent accenting the black and red berry fruits. Decanted for an hour - opened initially and then closed slightly after a couple hours. Five years still left in this 28 year old.
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3/28/2010 - finca wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful wine, violets and cedar nose, loevly fruit and a lingerin finish. There is still lots of life in this wine.
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3/14/2010 - wconnolly wrote: 88 Points
Very drinkable as expected. The fruit on the nose has moderated over time. There is still some dark berry on the palette giving way to a nicely balanced wine with floral notes. Third bottle in the last six months and all have been remarkably consistent.
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3/14/2010 - rmcnees wrote: 87 Points
Subdued slightly tart black fruits and subtle leather and cedar give way to floral highlights in the moderate finish.
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12/19/2009 - Khamen wrote: 89 Points
30 min decant with surprisongly little deposit. Tremendously gamey but harmonious nose. Slightly earthy but fantastic melange of secondary characteristics coming through on the mellow palate. slightly wild and untamed with muted fruit but plenty of pencil lead and mulch going on. Nicely balanced. An excellent reminder of what a great vintage this was on the left bank, although if I have a criticism it's that wild and crazy Brane-Cantenac profile laid bare.
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11/19/2009 - LWI wrote: 89 Points
Bordeaux Verticals (Oslo): The final bottle. The discussion had become more philosophical than wine-centered. I only noticed that it had become a bit short, but was still a pleasant, soft drink.
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8/29/2009 - rho wrote: 90 Points
Second to the last bottle purchased from Monoprix in 2002. Mid to high neck fill level. Did not decant but drink over a few hours period. Aromas of chocolate and tobacco. Brownish color indicate maturity. Medium to full bodied, taste of chocolate, tobacco, leather and mushroom on the palate. Slightly acidic and soft on the finish. A very enjoyable Margaux.
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1/20/2009 - Stefanos T. wrote: 94 Points
Wonderfull mature Bordeaux at an afforable price. No concessions. A very fine and faultless wine. Transparent bright red colour and a bouquet that unfolds as time passes. A medium to light bodied wine, seamless in the mouth, what one could expect aromaticaly from a vintage such as '82 from a margaux (cantenac) wine. An Underrated wine of great finesse. Great pleasure!
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6/12/2008 - Kevin_C wrote: 88 Points
Deeper in color than the '83. A little bordeaux funk and floral notes. Firm acidity.
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5/25/2008 - PC73 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A wine definitely showing its age - brown, tawny in appearance.
Wine took a long time to open up, after which we got notes of tobacco, yeast, blackberry, slightly burnt toast.
The palate was much fruitier than the nose, with raspberry, cherry, strawberry. Very soft tannins and mid acidity.
Must be time to drink up.
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1/25/2008 - aof wrote: 90 Points
Sadly, my last bottle. Dense, fragrant, mature and a pleasure to drink.
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11/22/2007 - aof wrote: 90 Points
I approached this wine with some trepidation; the cork was soaked and moldy, but did come off in one piece. I was struck by the vivid orange-ness, as I decanted the wine. The volatile acids got my salivary glands going. Decanted for 4 hours- and it needed every bit of that. Initial nose of chalk-limestone partly gave way to trouffles, milky chocolate and damp forest. Medium density on the palate, savoury with some dark berries that came to the fore hours after decanting. Not much of a finish, but overall, a very pleasant, mature claret, that went well with roulade of Pekin duck breast with creamed sweet white corn and Morel mushroom sauce. Happy thanksgiving!
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10/6/2007 - Paulo wrote: 91 Points
Level at bottom of neck. Cork saturated but still very firm. Transparent orange rim and red/brown robe. Deep, rewarding bouquet of blood, bramble, soil and flint, with hints of toast, bonfire toffee, licorice root and blackcurrant. Fruit increased noticeably after 4+ hours of air. More brambly fruit on the palate (again increasing and becoming more sweet with time) plus lots of mineral (iron, flint). Good vibrant acidity, lighter-side of medium body and with little or no noticeable tannin. Last glass much sweeter than the first. Beautiful long mineral finish that gives plently of time to reflect on a wonderfully balanced mouthful. One of my favourite bottles so far this year.
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5/26/2007 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
high shoulder/low neck fill. cork was firm and tight fitting but fractured mid-shank on extraction. cork fully saturated but no signs of ullage. overall bottle condition not as favorable as the last one consumed. however, the wine has held up better than expected. brown tinge to dark garnet color is more noticeable. the nose is still forward but a little less robust. fully mature, probaby in early stages of decline based on the fact that the flavor profile is not quite as flourishing as it was 10 months ago. nevertheless, for the benefit of those still holding bottles, i am extending longevity one more year. brane cantenac has had its ups and downs but it continues to be one of my favorites and this bottle was no exception.
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4/10/2007 - PC73 Likes this wine: 87 Points
A legendary vintage, but not sure this is the best example of it.
Very watery rim. Rusty / browny red in appearance.
Notes of metallic and tobacco on the nose.
Wine was surprisingly fruity - lots of strawberry.
Became much more fruity the next day.
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9/10/2006 - Deadheadno1 wrote: 89 Points
A very brown rim and it looked very mature. A distinctive nose of barnyard, chickenshit, cassis and some dark druit. It had some acidic feeling to the nose. The taste was a bit thin with cassis, red currant, dark fruit and in the finish some green tannins.
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7/3/2006 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
see tasting note of 12/14/2005 for more details. this bottle was in better condition. full fill. minimal liquid penetration of an intact cork. no back pressure. nose jumps from the bottle. good color. the wine was a bit restrained for about 1/2 an hour. then opened with a flourish of fruit. the wine is fully integrated with great finesse. not a powerhouse but great majesty. will save the last bottle for the chill winds in the fall. don't think this will last a great deal longer. this bottle was imported by wildman and shipped by borie-manoux. (names associated with other great wine properties.
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12/14/2005 - bacchus wrote: 89 Points
such divergent opinion on this wine. i must be the voice of reason and moderation. readers, however, must take into account my bias. brane cantenac was one of my pleasant introductory experiences to wine while i was courting my bride to be. we enjoyed 1964, 1967 and 1970 vintages in rapid succession. purchased later vintages that are still resting in the cellar. this wine was highly rated on release and was produced in a great year. surprising, then to read other reviews with such negative comments. i must disagree with those who found it watery, etc. this bottle was bottom neck fill. liquid penetration of cork to within 1/8th inch of top. cork split mid shank upon extraction. some back pressure on cork indicating volatility. this wine is best on the nose which arose directly out of the bottle upon opening. unequivocally the unique nose of brane-cantenac. stayed strong and even built somewhat in the glass for 20 minutes. color was deep garnet with no browning or thinning at the edge. legs coat the glass. tannins are present but are not obtrusive. fruit is a little faded. finish is short. probably would have been better a few years ago. will try the rest soon and hope for the best. thinking back, the 1989 was probably better than the 82.
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4/14/2005 - jamesn wrote:
Tasted like a nice old claret when first opened - went great with a roast chicken, but after an hour it fell apart completely. It picked up a sour taste - the last 1/3 of the bottle went down the sink.
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8/4/2003 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Bordeaux v Australia (Lucio's, Paddington): The Brane was brick red with a faintly ornage rim. An archetypal aged Bordeaux nose, with lead pencil and dried cedary aromas predominating. It’s very soft on the palate – not dried out, but only medium weight at best – a real old fashioned ‘claret’. Is certainly in its ‘drink now’ stage – there’s nowhere for this to go.
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3/30/2002 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Lovely, mature appearance; good depth, game, spices, oak and fresh fruit; typical 1982-style, relatively firm Merlot, soft and ripe acidity, melting tannins, juicy; good length. At peak, very good but not outstanding.
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4/18/1995 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Christie's Pre-Sale Tasting (Amsterdam): A bit more evolution than the 1985, similar in character but with more weight and better tannic grip.
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8/27/1989 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 88 Points
With K at home at dinner (Pasta del Sol). Brilliant medium red. No sign of age, but looks ready. Nose shows plenty of berry scents, spicy oak. On the palate, very pleasant wine. Medium body, minimal tannins. Round and supple, red licorice flavor. Fairly complex. Nicely integrated oak. 5-10-16-7: 88/100.
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9/1/1987 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine:
At the French restaurant in the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City with Mitch Meyer at dinner, on our trip to transfer the ETSI case to our firm from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Recommended by the sommelier, it was exquisite. Very fine perfume, elegant, flavory. A great wine.
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