1998 Brane Cantenac
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Tasting notes
A ripe, brawny, structured style of Margaux, the 1998 Château Brane-Cantenac offers ripe red and black fruits, roasted herbs, graphite, and crushed stone-driven aromatics. Based on 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc and aged 18 months in 70% new French oak, it's medium-bodied and nicely concentrated on the palate, with building tannins and a great finish. This rich, masculine Brane-Cantenac offers loads of pleasure and has another 10-15 years in its prime drinking plateau. Drink 2026-2041. The 1998 was harvested from September 18 to October 3, hitting 12.52% alcohol with a pH of 3.76.
Critic scores
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Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. 41 hl/ha. Deep core. Dark and diffuse aromatically with a touch of mint. Some freshness on attack then sweet and blowsy with a very dry finish. Bit of a brute. Dry tannins and not enough fruit? (JL)
The 1998 Brane-Cantenac is a vintage that has been a little variable from bottle to bottle over the years. I am taken by the well-defined, taut and focused nose, where vigorous blackberry and cedar aromas commingle with sous-bois and tobacco. The palate is clean and fresh with gentle grip and rounded, slightly suppler tannins than previous vintages. Sour cherry, rooibos and bay leaf linger on the finish with white pepper on the aftertaste. This is definitely one of the best bottles that I have encountered. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025.
The deepest colour in the vertical at this point, clear tannic structure, but less clarity of fruit character than the 1996. Attractive balance, think rosebud, cranberry, white truffle, peonies, some appellation signature, and a feeling of deft handling, but soft finish. Harvest September 18 to October 3, 41hl/h yield, 3.76ph, warm but wet vintage, generally better on the Right Bank than the Left. Jacques Boissenot consultant.
About the producer
Château Brane-Cantenac has been a consistent performer in the Margaux wine appellation since Henri Lurton took over the property, but thanks to replanting and investment in the last decade, quality has seen another sharp upswing.