Château Brane-Cantenac 2012

Has gained further with ageing and become even more charming: powerful, mouth-filling, tightly knit tannins, less harsh than during the en primeur stage, followed by a long, lingering finish of berries and fruit. Excellent Brane.

It is hard not to give kudos to proprietor Henri Lurton, as he’s done such a great job at this famous estate in Margaux. The 2012 has an opaque ruby/purple color and beautifully sweet, velvety tannins. It had to be more difficult achieving this level in the Médoc in 2012 than in Graves or the Right Bank sectors of Pomerol and St.-Emilion. With a lush, supple texture, medium to full body, and beautiful flowery blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, this opaque wine is pure and impressively endowed. Another beauty from Lurton, it is soft enough to be drunk early on, but promises to age well for 15-20 years.

Plush yet focused, with a loam-tinged structure carrying dark plum, blackberry coulis and tobacco notes. Cuts a broad swath through the finish, with an echo of freshly drawn espresso. Solid, with a pleasant old-school twinge. Best from 2016 through 2022. 9,250 cases made.

92–94. Barrel sample. With marked acidity as well as black fruits, this is a wine with weight and richness. It has a dark core of firm tannins, although the aftertaste maintains the juiciness.

Beautifully fragrant and finely judged claret with 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot. A refined and charming, gentle expression of the appellation. A property that has grown in quality each year but remains fairly priced.

A red with mineral, oyster-shell and currant character. Full body, chewy tannins and a long and muscular finish. Needs two or three years to soften. A racy 2012.

The 2012 Brane-Cantenac was a relatively late-ripening vintage for which harvest finished on October 16. This is far better than the 2011 with more fruit and vigour. Finely delineated blackberry, wild hedgerow and graphite scents continue to lend it a Pauillac-like allure. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and vivid black fruit laced with white pepper, leather and tobacco. Very harmonious and quite elegant in style, this has a very endearing poise on the finish. The 2012 is just entering its drinking window now and should give another 20 years' drinking pleasure. Impressive for the vintage. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025.

Licorice, cocoa, forest floor and sweet black cherry aromas lead you to a spicy, fresh, silky, crisp, sweet and tart mouthful of red fruits in an elegant styling.

Classic hints of cedar wood, leather, dark berries, good density but medium weight, fresh and vibrant young tannin, rather long.

Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. Delicate bouquet, showing little power, with blue- to black-berry notes. On the palate, it displays great nobility, fine tannins, and blackberry pulp in the substance. A very good buy: a reassuringly great Margaux. I love this Brane-Cantenac style!

Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. A delicate bouquet, not overly forceful, with blue- to black-berry notes. On the palate, it shows real nobility, fine tannins, and blackberry pulp in the extract. A great buy—an impressively generous, reassuring Margaux. I love this Brane-Cantenac style!

Red-berry and vegetal bouquet: cherries, blackberries, stemmy spice, oak. Light, slender palate with little fruit, firm tannins, sweet aromatics, and a medium-length finish. 16/20 2018 - 2032

Confident ruby colour, with slow releasing aromatics on the opening, this is impressive, one of the best 2012s in the appellation. Blackberry and damson fruits, clear graphite and crayon flavour and slate textured tannins. Great stuff, you can drink this now and be very happy, but there are decades ahead. Harvest September 27 to October 16, 70% new French oak for ageing, 3.69ph, 45.5hl/h yield, Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

The 2012 Brane-Cantenac is medium to deep garnet colored. It opens with tobacco leaf, leather, and tilled earth scents over a core of prunes and mince pies, plus a suggestion of dried sage. The medium-bodied palate is a little thin yet has nice freshness, offering chewy tannins and a savory finish.

A rather complex nose, with notes of tobacco and slightly roasted red fruits. On the palate, very Cabernet in style, with a round, open attack and a fine, well-structured tannic frame. The finish is long, with spicy notes.

Brane-Cantenac is a supple, oaky wine, charming though a little vegetal, medium-bodied, floral, and very refined.

Logo on the cork: an inverted T (Trescases) Deep, purple colour. Refined, fruity nose, though discreet. Smooth, slender palate, very fruity, with a slight note of iced tea on the finish. Medium-bodied. The finish shows a touch of liquorice and fine-grained tannins. This bottle seemed less on form than others. I will taste it again.