Stable, some tobacco and lots of earthy notes. The little dark fruit which was left was fading fast. Still enjoyable but past its prime. Drink up now. (IG)
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Leather, red cassis, mushrooms, tobacco, and a slightly dusty note on the nose. Quite acidic with integrated tannins, iron, and some red fruit flavors. Good finish. This is fully mature and I don’t think it’s going to improve from here, but the wine is pleasure to drink. A bit lighter style of Bordeaux, especially for 86.
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4 years since I last had this wine, and luckily this is a perfect bottle. In neck/bottle neck fill, clean and dry top of cork with only the bottom third soaked. Slow ox’ed for about 30 min. Still a dark garnet with a fairly wide translucent rim, no browning. Great showing, a touch of cedar on the attack, then iron and rich deep dark fruit integrated with tobacco notes, a touch of sweetness perhaps hinting at Margaux but overall more Pauillac than Margaux in style in 86, fine to medium tannins still providing a solid structure. Medium finish. I love 86 Bordeaux. A very solid 93 and the fruit in good bottles like this will easily last another 10 years.
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Made from Cabernet Sauvignon (69 %), Merlot (22 %), Cabernet Franc (8 %).
Colour: Brownish w. orange hue.
Bouquet: Developed but still pure. Blackcurrant was predominant w. tobacco, liquorice, compost, prunes, herbs and malty sweetness like a heavy stout.
Palate: Dry, med- tannins, med acid and med+ body wchich shouln't be mistaken for heavy but rather elegant and dancing on the palate. The tannins are rounded and refined and overall making the wine silky soft, persistent and beautifully matured.
33 years old and still both fresh and fruity. A wonderful example of just how well Bordeaux last.
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A very nice, fully-mature wine here, that manages not to display the hard tannins found in the majority of wines from this difficult year. Medium bodied, soft, finesse in style, there is a complex, earthy, cherry, pipe tobacco filled bouquet that meshes perfectly with the soft, earthy, red fruits on the palate. There is no reason to age this any further. The wine was made from a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc.
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Mixed bag at the table. A couple people loved it, one person hated it, and the other 3 seemed to think it was enjoyable but moderately disappointing given previous reviews. Pretty harsh on opening, but mellowed with about an hour of air. Might have benefitted from a longer decant, or maybe the bottle was slightly off. 89 points was my assessment of the overall score at the table. Have another bottle which I look forward to. Note to self: open a few hours beforehand in case initial taste deems that a longer decant is in order.
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Had a great bottle of the 1986 Brane Cantenac 3 years ago, probably the best vintage of BC I have had among those excellent 70s and 80s vintages produced at this Chateau. Hence was excited to try it again. Excellent bottom neck fill and cork. PnP as I was not sure how advanced this wine would be. Healthy color with a fairly dark garnet but needs a good 90 min in the open bottle to show its best. Compared to the bottle 3 years ago the dark fruit has retreated a fair bit but is still providing nice balance with some beautiful notes of cigar box, leather and cedar. A great bottle to sip on its own without food and enjoy. Medium plus finish. Great wine if you can find it.
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I did not consult CT before pulling this bottle, as part of a plan to clear overaged deadwood from the cellar. I'll not make that mistake again. I would have carried it more gingerly from the cellar had I known I was holding a fully armed elegance bomb. It was glorious straight from the bottle. Fully mature, fully integrated, soft dark fruity flavors and a structural backbone that would suggest Pauillac but no graphite. Not for the fruit bomb lover, but a thrill for the older Bordeaux fan.
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Wow - best Brane Cantenac I have ever had and head and shoulders above the 89 opened a few months ago. Great weight and balance. Would have guessed Pauillac blind as I was getting some pencil shavings on the palate. Fully integrated tannins. Medium plus finish. Really impressive wine and in a great place now. After the recent, fantastic 86 Palmer, would love to try some more Margaux from 1986.
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10/2/2023 - M. Schmid Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beatiful bordeaux, but rather on the light side and the fruit is only subtle. I like it with food and without decant. Drink up until 2024-2025
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9/17/2021 - Robwild Likes this wine: 89 Points
Earthy barnyard nose. Tabaco, vanilla, pencil shaving, and Oak. Fading tannins. Was obviously a treat in its prime but now past its time. Drink up.
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9/4/2021 - DrZett wrote: 87 Points
Stable, some tobacco and lots of earthy notes. The little dark fruit which was left was fading fast. Still enjoyable but past its prime. Drink up now. (IG)
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8/29/2021 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Leather, red cassis, mushrooms, tobacco, and a slightly dusty note on the nose. Quite acidic with integrated tannins, iron, and some red fruit flavors. Good finish. This is fully mature and I don’t think it’s going to improve from here, but the wine is pleasure to drink. A bit lighter style of Bordeaux, especially for 86.
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12/12/2020 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
4 years since I last had this wine, and luckily this is a perfect bottle. In neck/bottle neck fill, clean and dry top of cork with only the bottom third soaked. Slow ox’ed for about 30 min. Still a dark garnet with a fairly wide translucent rim, no browning. Great showing, a touch of cedar on the attack, then iron and rich deep dark fruit integrated with tobacco notes, a touch of sweetness perhaps hinting at Margaux but overall more Pauillac than Margaux in style in 86, fine to medium tannins still providing a solid structure. Medium finish. I love 86 Bordeaux.
A very solid 93 and the fruit in good bottles like this will easily last another 10 years.
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11/20/2020 - tobyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Made from Cabernet Sauvignon (69 %), Merlot (22 %), Cabernet Franc (8 %).
Colour: Brownish w. orange hue.
Bouquet: Developed but still pure. Blackcurrant was predominant w. tobacco, liquorice, compost, prunes, herbs and malty sweetness like a heavy stout.
Palate: Dry, med- tannins, med acid and med+ body wchich shouln't be mistaken for heavy but rather elegant and dancing on the palate. The tannins are rounded and refined and overall making the wine silky soft, persistent and beautifully matured.
33 years old and still both fresh and fruity. A wonderful example of just how well Bordeaux last.
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4/10/2020 - rpenn77 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Rich cedar nose but not much fruit left. Seems a little thin on the finish.
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4/10/2020 - rpenn77 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Rich cedar notes but not much fruit left.
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1/2/2020 - Burgundywine wrote:
A bit past its peak (in 2019)
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10/5/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
A very nice, fully-mature wine here, that manages not to display the hard tannins found in the majority of wines from this difficult year. Medium bodied, soft, finesse in style, there is a complex, earthy, cherry, pipe tobacco filled bouquet that meshes perfectly with the soft, earthy, red fruits on the palate. There is no reason to age this any further. The wine was made from a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc.
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6/19/2017 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mixed bag at the table. A couple people loved it, one person hated it, and the other 3 seemed to think it was enjoyable but moderately disappointing given previous reviews. Pretty harsh on opening, but mellowed with about an hour of air. Might have benefitted from a longer decant, or maybe the bottle was slightly off. 89 points was my assessment of the overall score at the table. Have another bottle which I look forward to. Note to self: open a few hours beforehand in case initial taste deems that a longer decant is in order.
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9/18/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mature; brownish red; cedar; integrated and sweet; a bit light mid palate with pleasant finish.
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6/10/2016 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had a great bottle of the 1986 Brane Cantenac 3 years ago, probably the best vintage of BC I have had among those excellent 70s and 80s vintages produced at this Chateau. Hence was excited to try it again. Excellent bottom neck fill and cork. PnP as I was not sure how advanced this wine would be. Healthy color with a fairly dark garnet but needs a good 90 min in the open bottle to show its best. Compared to the bottle 3 years ago the dark fruit has retreated a fair bit but is still providing nice balance with some beautiful notes of cigar box, leather and cedar. A great bottle to sip on its own without food and enjoy. Medium plus finish. Great wine if you can find it.
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3/13/2016 - oncocyte Likes this wine: 94 Points
I did not consult CT before pulling this bottle, as part of a plan to clear overaged deadwood from the cellar. I'll not make that mistake again. I would have carried it more gingerly from the cellar had I known I was holding a fully armed elegance bomb. It was glorious straight from the bottle. Fully mature, fully integrated, soft dark fruity flavors and a structural backbone that would suggest Pauillac but no graphite. Not for the fruit bomb lover, but a thrill for the older Bordeaux fan.
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9/13/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 88 Points
The cork came out in pieces; cranberry color; sour plum; light finish.
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8/24/2013 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow - best Brane Cantenac I have ever had and head and shoulders above the 89 opened a few months ago. Great weight and balance. Would have guessed Pauillac blind as I was getting some pencil shavings on the palate. Fully integrated tannins. Medium plus finish. Really impressive wine and in a great place now. After the recent, fantastic 86 Palmer, would love to try some more Margaux from 1986.
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7/7/2010 - itsallaboutwine Likes this wine:
As usual delicious and at peak.
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10/3/2008 - itsallaboutwine wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding, Neil Martin is right about that one, great value at 40€. Drink up.
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