So this is a point, imo. Dark, even, but also daybright garnet in the glass. Nose of pencil shavings and damsons. On the palate, unctuous, globules of dark purple fruit, but also some redcurrant in the mix. Tannins soft and approachable. Long finish but not a particularly exciting one. Pleasantly surprised at the medium, medium plus alcohol.
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Out the bottle - fresh red berry, smooth, hardly noticeable tannins, very drinkable. More nuanced on day 2 - fresher tannins (slightly tart), blackberry, damsons, kirsch, touch of liquorice and pine. Expansive and expressive. Excellent now.
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Light aroma - suspect it will open up with time. Very lovely mouthfeel, rich and toasty with fruit coming through with the acidity - plum, cherry. Savoury and warm finish - neutral tannis
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Much like my previous bottle, popped and poured. Was red-fruited and drinkable on night one. Overnight it filled out with more dark fruit, better balance, and a lengthy finish. An excellent wine that requires patience, and should improve in a few years.
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Still on the young side, but can be had now with a 6+ hour decant. Very fruit forward and somewhat primary but with a decent finish. I would wait five more years before it can really be enjoyed.
Fruit forward, cassis, plum, dark cherry. Starts to develop secondary aromas. Lush and very pleasant to drink. Two hours decanting are a must, better three.
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Decanted 4 hours. Beautiful rich deep garnet color upon decanting. Impressive nose of tar & leather. Initial pour shows strong legs with flavor of soft menthol & ripe plums. Nice w/appetizer of sharp provolone & entree of grilled rib eye.
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Further to my 2/20/22 note I am tasting this against 2015 Siran and, bizarre as it may seem, 2015 Meyney because of the blends. See separate notes for these.
Siran: 55% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon 7% Petit Verdot Baron de Brane: 57% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc Meyney: 52% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot Note the similarity of the Siran and Meyney.
Colour: v deep plum red, v thin rim, plum tinge. Nose: full, rounded, red fruits and plums, q opulent sensuous nose, Taste: med body, rounded, polished, ripe red fruits, plums then cassis, soft tannins. Long finish, soft but structured, red fruits and fresh (the CF in it?). Elegant. Overall, a good second wine and not just the reject barrels. Wears its 14% better than the Siran and develops well, even though it has, like the others the astringency of 2015. It is remarkably light in body compared to the Siran's stuffing. V different animals, I guess. The tasting: the B de B impresses by its breeding and the freshness that the CF adds, but evolves as a relatively light bodied wine. The Meyney goes off at a delicious tangent typical of the terroir. The Siran is left standing sadly, particularly when you consider having to pay the premium similar to Meyney over the B de B. Nevertheless, it has stuffing and ripeness.
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57 % Merlot 39 % Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Cabernet Franc so v different to the Cantemerle 2015 compared to it (separate note). Colour: deep red, thin rim, purple tinge. Nose: full, fresh, perfumed, ripe notes of cassis, cocoa, ground coffee, then plum dominates. Becomes opulent and sensuous. Taste: light body, q assertive but rounded, strong CS notes then plums, tannic, long finish, CS dominant, tannic. V ripe. Overall, a fascinating comparison to the Cantemerle 2015, which is predictably tougher given the higher CS content. This wine wins out. ABV: 14% but not overpowering.
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This second wine of Brane Cantenac continues to not only drink well but improve. Service and tasting notes similar to my previous notes of 3/15/2021 and 5/5/2021, but the nose has developed a powerful Margaux floral for which I have added two more points. On a side note, I gave a few friends bottles of this wine for their Christmas dinners and they all were effusive with praise for the wine!
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Identical experience as per my 3/15/21 note. This was for a birthday dinner for a friend's sister who was just learning about wine, and it was a perfect "trainer," so to speak, with its fruit-forward-and-easy-to-drink character.
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One-hour splash decant. During decant, wine was moderately aromatic of blackcurrant jam. Wine was clear, purple from bowl to rim, no bricking yet. After resting in the decanter and poured into the glass, wine had a nose of dark fruits with a perfume of violets and lavender. In the mouth, wine had deep but straightforward fruit: plums and black currants buttressed by a little toast. Not overly complex, but quite enjoyable, both on its own and with food. The finish was of moderate length and suggested the aforementioned vanilla and lavender. Very nice second wine and a definite winner with all the diners at the table.
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I had a bottle of this a year ago and it didn't seem ready. Just opened another today with some food. I took the first sip absent-mindedly, and was instantly dragged from my reveries by the amazing taste of this wine. How has one year made so much difference? This is just perfect. I wish I had bought more now.
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Much better in bottle than barrel. With time, the wine has filled out, softened and developed more of its refined, early-drinking, soft textured, floral charm. This is perfect for restaurants today.
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BDX in SF: Simple and short from start to finish. This managed to push out some tobacco and earth-laced red currant and red cherry (with some slight black cherry and strawberry) notes, but was otherwise linear and overly lithe. Earth and dirt repeat on the tail, ending watery and a little dirty. Unfortunately, this lacks sophistication and complexity across the board. It’s drinkable the same way a coffee drinker might drink tea if it was the only hot beverage available on a cold morning...but otherwise, pass...
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2015 Bordeaux Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 57% Merlot, 39% C.S., & 4% C.F. harvested 17th Sept-19th Oct with yields of 51 hl/ha & 33% of the overall production; Aged 12 mos in FR oak (30% new); 10,833 cases made
N: ™Tobacco with earth underneath; Red berries with hints of flowers (violets?) [TY, budosyu]
P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt firmed by an astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, BALANCED, already elegant finish with an enticing tangy/swtness (& the barest HINTS of very, VERY slight bitterness) to the very, VERY fine tannins. Approachable now, this DESERVES through '20, then making its 10th. IMPRESSIVE! My EXC-/EXC. 91 pts ea Decanter & Vinous (Galloni), 90 WS, & 87 Jeff Leve. [This vendor's $29.95 puts it @ the bottom of wine-searcher's TOP quartile.]
™My ability to smell being impinged by sinus surgery
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Et pent slør av røyk på duft som avløses av frisk rødbærsfrukt, lett sedertre, florale toner, og lakris. Middels fyldig og pen delikat stil. Lett sødmefull rødbærsfrukt og pen lakris. Masse Bordeaux for pengene dette. Bra 2.vin. 91 poeng.
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Margaux de Brane, 3rd wine, 2015, I wanted to try as I love Margaux wines in general, just as a goto wine. It was not good, not even for $25. It was harsh, unbalanced, didn't open even after I tried the decanter on it for 2 hours. I know it's a 2015, so it might need some time, but for now I won't drink this again.
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4/17/2024 - Mark4w Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mostly Merlot with cab Sauvignon smooth. More typical of a left bank Bordeaux. Decanted for an hour. Will see how it tastes tomorrow
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4/9/2024 - Alien Likes this wine: 89 Points
So this is a point, imo. Dark, even, but also daybright garnet in the glass. Nose of pencil shavings and damsons. On the palate, unctuous, globules of dark purple fruit, but also some redcurrant in the mix. Tannins soft and approachable. Long finish but not a particularly exciting one. Pleasantly surprised at the medium, medium plus alcohol.
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3/31/2024 - Dugis wrote: 88 Points
Some cherry fruit, nice balance. Not too many tannins. Fairly smooth
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3/24/2024 - Jaymnik Likes this wine: 92 Points
Out the bottle - fresh red berry, smooth, hardly noticeable tannins, very drinkable. More nuanced on day 2 - fresher tannins (slightly tart), blackberry, damsons, kirsch, touch of liquorice and pine. Expansive and expressive. Excellent now.
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2/17/2024 - woodpecka Likes this wine: 90 Points
bcp de fruits, tarte aux bleuets. Peut encore vieillir 5-10 ans.
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11/11/2023 - iBurg1229 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Vintage Wine - Bordeaux Tasting 11/11/23: 13.5% ABV. Medium ruby core with garnet rim in apperance.
Notes of blackberry, cassis, violet, smoke, clove, and earth. Medium body with fine tannins, and vibrant acidity. Medium length of finish.
A modest and generic Bdx. Has the elegance of a Margaux. This isn't going to get better - drink soon.
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10/15/2023 - lloyd.cochrane@googlemail.com wrote: 92 Points
Light aroma - suspect it will open up with time. Very lovely mouthfeel, rich and toasty with fruit coming through with the acidity - plum, cherry. Savoury and warm finish - neutral tannis
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6/3/2023 - racerchris Likes this wine:
With a bit of air this opened up nicely. Rich dark fruit with a hint of #2 pencil.
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2/20/2023 - racerchris Likes this wine: 91 Points
Much like my previous bottle, popped and poured. Was red-fruited and drinkable on night one. Overnight it filled out with more dark fruit, better balance, and a lengthy finish. An excellent wine that requires patience, and should improve in a few years.
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1/28/2023 - grateful.dad wrote:
Sabrina gift really liked it.
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12/8/2022 - Oliverl1 wrote: 89 Points
Still on the young side, but can be had now with a 6+ hour decant. Very fruit forward and somewhat primary but with a decent finish. I would wait five more years before it can really be enjoyed.
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11/5/2022 - mr_rancho Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruit forward, cassis, plum, dark cherry. Starts to develop secondary aromas. Lush and very pleasant to drink. Two hours decanting are a must, better three.
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4/10/2022 - casaallora Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 4 hours. Beautiful rich deep garnet color upon decanting. Impressive nose of tar & leather. Initial pour shows strong legs with flavor of soft menthol & ripe plums. Nice w/appetizer of sharp provolone & entree of grilled rib eye.
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2/26/2022 - Michael Mackenzie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Further to my 2/20/22 note I am tasting this against 2015 Siran and, bizarre as it may seem, 2015 Meyney because of the blends. See separate notes for these.
Siran: 55% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon 7% Petit Verdot
Baron de Brane: 57% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc
Meyney: 52% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot
Note the similarity of the Siran and Meyney.
Colour: v deep plum red, v thin rim, plum tinge.
Nose: full, rounded, red fruits and plums, q opulent sensuous nose,
Taste: med body, rounded, polished, ripe red fruits, plums then cassis, soft tannins. Long finish, soft but structured, red fruits and fresh (the CF in it?). Elegant.
Overall, a good second wine and not just the reject barrels. Wears its 14% better than the Siran and develops well, even though it has, like the others the astringency of 2015. It is remarkably light in body compared to the Siran's stuffing. V different animals, I guess.
The tasting: the B de B impresses by its breeding and the freshness that the CF adds, but evolves as a relatively light bodied wine. The Meyney goes off at a delicious tangent typical of the terroir. The Siran is left standing sadly, particularly when you consider having to pay the premium similar to Meyney over the B de B. Nevertheless, it has stuffing and ripeness.
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2/20/2022 - Michael Mackenzie Likes this wine: 92 Points
57 % Merlot 39 % Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Cabernet Franc so v different to the Cantemerle 2015 compared to it (separate note).
Colour: deep red, thin rim, purple tinge.
Nose: full, fresh, perfumed, ripe notes of cassis, cocoa, ground coffee, then plum dominates. Becomes opulent and sensuous.
Taste: light body, q assertive but rounded, strong CS notes then plums, tannic, long finish, CS dominant, tannic. V ripe.
Overall, a fascinating comparison to the Cantemerle 2015, which is predictably tougher given the higher CS content. This wine wins out. ABV: 14% but not overpowering.
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12/29/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
This second wine of Brane Cantenac continues to not only drink well but improve. Service and tasting notes similar to my previous notes of 3/15/2021 and 5/5/2021, but the nose has developed a powerful Margaux floral for which I have added two more points. On a side note, I gave a few friends bottles of this wine for their Christmas dinners and they all were effusive with praise for the wine!
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5/5/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 88 Points
Identical experience as per my 3/15/21 note. This was for a birthday dinner for a friend's sister who was just learning about wine, and it was a perfect "trainer," so to speak, with its fruit-forward-and-easy-to-drink character.
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3/15/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 88 Points
One-hour splash decant. During decant, wine was moderately aromatic of blackcurrant jam. Wine was clear, purple from bowl to rim, no bricking yet. After resting in the decanter and poured into the glass, wine had a nose of dark fruits with a perfume of violets and lavender. In the mouth, wine had deep but straightforward fruit: plums and black currants buttressed by a little toast. Not overly complex, but quite enjoyable, both on its own and with food. The finish was of moderate length and suggested the aforementioned vanilla and lavender. Very nice second wine and a definite winner with all the diners at the table.
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11/27/2020 - Eugenedinapoli wrote:
Deep ruby. Ripe red and dark fruit, some oak spice and some green notes. Vibrant, balanced, structured with no fat and nice grip. Good deal.
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11/17/2020 - racerchris Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP and drank over a couple days. I really enjoyed the second half of this bottle. Probably best to decant for an hour or two before serving.
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9/6/2020 - HEBRO 10 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep berry
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5/4/2020 - bobrinsky Likes this wine: 90 Points
I had a bottle of this a year ago and it didn't seem ready. Just opened another today with some food. I took the first sip absent-mindedly, and was instantly dragged from my reveries by the amazing taste of this wine. How has one year made so much difference? This is just perfect. I wish I had bought more now.
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1/12/2020 - Pkdrew Likes this wine:
Dry French red
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10/19/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Much better in bottle than barrel. With time, the wine has filled out, softened and developed more of its refined, early-drinking, soft textured, floral charm. This is perfect for restaurants today.
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8/20/2019 - csimm wrote: 85 Points
BDX in SF: Simple and short from start to finish. This managed to push out some tobacco and earth-laced red currant and red cherry (with some slight black cherry and strawberry) notes, but was otherwise linear and overly lithe. Earth and dirt repeat on the tail, ending watery and a little dirty. Unfortunately, this lacks sophistication and complexity across the board. It’s drinkable the same way a coffee drinker might drink tea if it was the only hot beverage available on a cold morning...but otherwise, pass...
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8/8/2019 - maxima wrote: 85 Points
Bu en succ.
Encore un second vin qui confirme qu'on ne touche pas.
Next!
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2/9/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
2015 Bordeaux Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 57% Merlot, 39% C.S., & 4% C.F. harvested 17th Sept-19th Oct with yields of 51 hl/ha & 33% of the overall production; Aged 12 mos in FR oak (30% new); 10,833 cases made
N: ™Tobacco with earth underneath; Red berries with hints of flowers (violets?) [TY, budosyu]
P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt firmed by an astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, BALANCED, already elegant finish with an enticing tangy/swtness (& the barest HINTS of very, VERY slight bitterness) to the very, VERY fine tannins. Approachable now, this DESERVES through '20, then making its 10th. IMPRESSIVE! My EXC-/EXC. 91 pts ea Decanter & Vinous (Galloni), 90 WS, & 87 Jeff Leve. [This vendor's $29.95 puts it @ the bottom of wine-searcher's TOP quartile.]
™My ability to smell being impinged by sinus surgery
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2/1/2019 - Shiaxonna wrote: 90 Points
Fresh and fruity Bordeaux. All my 2015 Bdx has been very fresh and nice to drink this young. Smooth tannins.
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12/1/2018 - Andre Brattland wrote: 91 Points
57% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc.
Et pent slør av røyk på duft som avløses av frisk rødbærsfrukt, lett sedertre, florale toner, og lakris. Middels fyldig og pen delikat stil. Lett sødmefull rødbærsfrukt og pen lakris. Masse Bordeaux for pengene dette. Bra 2.vin. 91 poeng.
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10/1/2018 - peterdenh Does not like this wine:
Margaux de Brane, 3rd wine, 2015, I wanted to try as I love Margaux wines in general, just as a goto wine. It was not good, not even for $25. It was harsh, unbalanced, didn't open even after I tried the decanter on it for 2 hours. I know it's a 2015, so it might need some time, but for now I won't drink this again.
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6/18/2016 - retired_and_roving Does not like this wine:
From the glass list at Racine's NYC. Was not really a fan of this one. Felt a bit flabby to me without enough acid to check the sweet tannin.
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4/21/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 87 Points
Light but charming with freshness and sweetness to the red fruit-oriented wine. Drink this young. 86 - 88 Pts
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