Château BRANE-CANTENAC 2023

Description

Jean-Marc Quarin 96 www.quarin.com
Couleur sombre et intense. Nez très aromatique, intense, fin, pur et fruité. Minutieux en entrée de bouche le vin s’impose de suite par son gras. Un peu moins parfumé à cet âge que d’habitude, mais avec une structure plus riche, ce 2023 retrouve du goût et des tannins fins dans la persistance. Il s’achève séveux, long, toujours gras, sur une tannicité très bien enveloppée. Ici les IPT sur les merlots sont de 100 et sur les cabernets sauvignon de 90, des chiffres énormes sur cette propriété. Assemblage : 77 % cabernet sauvignon, 20 % merlot, 1 % cabernet franc, 1 % carmenère, 1 % petit verdot. Degré d’alcool : 13°5 – pH : 3,59. Rendement 45,7 hl/ha.

Yves Beck 95-97 points www.yvesbeck.wine
Bien marqué par son élevage, Brane-Cantenac ne manque pas de souligner sa complexité, même dans un contexte boisé. Au fil des minutes ce sont la fraîcheur et les nuances fruitées qui prennent le dessus et se placent devant le bois. Les rafraichissantes notes mentholées combinées à des effluves de baies noires mûres ainsi que des nuances florales créent une symbiose convaincante. De bonne densité et suave en attaque, le vin invite par son caractère soyeux, sa profondeur, ses tannins veloutés et sa structure acide salvatrice qui fait office d’électron libre et qui confère un côté plus linéaire au vin, sans pour autant contrecarrer sa nature sensuelle. Un Brane Cantenac authentique puissant, caressant, harmonieux, délicieux avec juste ce qu’il faut de pep en finale pour terminer, ainsi, sur de la fraîcheur.  2028-2053

Georgina Hindle 96 points  www.decanter.com (at Château Lagrange, 09 Apr 2024)
Very aromatic, gorgeous florality on the nose, so inviting and welcoming. Really open and generous – roses, violets, peonies, red cherries and strawberries. Supple and juicy, instantly quite pretty and fun, a lively bright aspect to the red fruits – cranberry, crisp green apple, raspberry and strawberry then the fine tannins come into play and give the structure and the focus to the finish. It’s a little less plush than Brane is normally – usually more gentle, fleshy and smooth – this is a little two-toned with influence from the new oak in the tightness but there’s great potential here. Feels a bit more like a St-Julien expression – calm, relaxed, smooth, intentional, juicy and lifted. Less charming right now, more tense and precise. Ageing 18 months, 100 new oak. 13.7% press wine. 40% grand vin production.

Neal Martin 93-95 points www.vinous.com
The 2023 Brane-Cantenac was picked from September 4 to October 2 at 45.7hL/ha with the highest IPT (Indice de Polyphénols Totaux, a measurement of tannin) ever with respect to the Merlot, which underwent some saignée in tank. Matured entirely in new oak, it has wonderful delineation on the nose, quite floral with pressed violets infusing the lifted black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky-smooth entry and a silver bead of acidity. Pure black fruit infused with graphite lends this Pauillac-like attributes, sustained on the finish, as usual. This is a very classical Brane-Cantenac— a worthy follow-up to the 2022.

William Kelley 93-95 points www.erobertparker.com
The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot (which saw some saignée), 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère and 1% Petit Verdot, and it completed its malolactic fermentation in barrels as has been the rule at this estate since the 1990s. Offering up aromas of dark cherries, cassis and spices framed by creamy new oak, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a creamy core of fruit and a long, gently lactic finish.

Antonio Galloni 94-96 points www.vinous.com
The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is a sensual, silky wine. There’s plenty of depth and structure behind that, but the first impression is most definitely one of elegance. Crushed flowers, spice and dried herbs meld into a core of super-expressive, dark, red-toned fruit. The 100% new oak is impeccably balanced within the wine’s frame. Brane-Cantenac remains one of the best relative values in Bordeaux, or anywhere, for that matter. This is a fine effort from proprietor Henri Lurton and his team. Tasted two times.