2023 Brane Cantenac

Readers looking for one of the hidden gems in the vintage should jump on the 2023 Château Brane-Cantenac, an incredibly impressive Margaux that does everything right. Cassis, graphite, violets, lead pencil, and leafy tobacco notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with classy, integrated oak, flawless balance, and fine tannins. I love its overall purity, as well as its balance, and it should need just 4-5 years of bottle age to show its potential. Tasted twice.

Cuban cigars, cedar, cassis, spice, forest floor, and flowers open the perfume. On the palate, the wine shines with its silky textures, vibrancy, and hints of salty rocks that ride along effortlessly, with its layers of, sweet, ripe, black with red fruits. There is length, and refinement. Taking close to 1 month to harvest is what the difference with 2023. This is another vintage that Brane Cantenac lovers should have in their cellars. The wine blends 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. 13.5% ABV, 3.77 pH. The harvest took place September 4 - October 2. The Grand Vin was produced from only 40% of the harvest.

The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of blackcurrant jelly, boysenberries, and black raspberries slowly emerge from the glass, giving way to notions of charcoal, pencil lead, and a waft of tree bark. The medium-bodied palate has a solid structure of racy acidity and firm, ripe, grainy tannins supporting the tightly wound black and red fruit flavors, finishing on a lingering mineral note. The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with pH 3.59.