Château Brane-Cantenac 2010

At the heart of the distinguished Margaux appellation, Château Brane-Cantenac stands proudly. Renowned for producing wines of remarkable elegance and finesse, this 75-hectare estate is an emblem of quality and excellence in the world of fine wine.

Complacency has no place at Brane. Tradition must be matched with forward thinking and a constant hunger for improvement. Recent investments in an entirely new winery and significant upgrades to machinery mark a concerted effort to improve quality while simultaneously reducing our ecological footprint. Continuous experimentation in the vat room and cellar ensures that we are at the cutting edge of modern winemaking

Vintage summary;
The 2010 vintage is uncannily similar to the previous vintage: a dry year but with water reserves that had been replenished the previous fall. The cool nights of a pleasant summer imparted full aromatic expression and unusually high levels of phenolic compounds.
The climate in 2010 corresponded marvelously to Brane’s terroir. The plateau’s clay-like gravel subsoil can give the vines the humidity the grapes need to mature in conditions of extreme dryness. Aromatic expression also being a major quality of this terroir, it was particularly rich at Brane this year. The severity of the blend may seem surprising but it was the key to a perfect balance...

Tasting note;
The nose was highly aromatic a few months ago but has recently become more restrained. In the mouth the wine has incredible concentration and soft, fine tannins that are relatively unpronounced. The wine has a remarkable freshness with perfectly ripe fruit flavours. Excellent length with a magnificent spicy finish and velvety texture.

"Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château, the 2010 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 30% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 62% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose has completely shut down since I last tasted it and cannot compare with the aromatics of the 2009 at present. The palate is a truer indicator of the wine, because it races out of the blocks with its ripe, firm tannins, layers of mineral-rich black fruit with a tingle of spice on the animated finish. Here, it just shades the 2009. Both are sensational vintages for the estate, although I suspect this might have the edge in the longer term. This is a brilliant Margaux with a long future ahead. Tasted April 2015. Drink 2023 - 2045.
95 Points."
(Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate # 228, December 2016)