2020 - Brane-Cantenac, Margaux

Slate tannins, a ton of character, this is a great wine, epitome of classified Médoc, stately, powerful, juicy, mouthwatering, serious. Cocoa bean, crayon, liquorice, pencil lead, mint, cassis. Ticks all the boxes. Harvest September 14 to 30, ph 3.71, 100% new oak for ageing, 30.8hl/h yield, Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac is cut from a similar cloth to the 2019 rather than the 2018. Quite strict at first, it opens with blackberry, cedar and tobacco notes, veering strongly towards Pauillac as Brane-Cantenac is wont to do. The nose has wonderful delineation but is certainly less expressive than the 2019 at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with silky-smooth tannins and perfectly judged acidity. Sapid and focused with plenty of grip on the finish, this supremely gifted wine will require patience, but it will be worth it. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025.

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac is deep garnet-purple in color. It gallops out with energetic scents of black and red currant preserves, fresh boysenberries, and candied violets, plus wafts of bay leaves and graphite. The medium-bodied palate shimmers with vibrant black and red berry flavors, supported by firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and earthy.