2023 Brane-Cantenac, Margaux

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. (GH)

With beautiful, expressive aromatics and astonishing purity, everything is in the right place with Brane Cantenac’s 2023. A thread of black fruit weaves deftly through a textured and fruit-driven, intense palate that relents to fine, pixelated tannins and a mineral touch on the long finish. Complex and impressive, it is another smashing success from a property that seems like it can do no wrong, and is quickly becoming an upper-echelon Margaux that will rival the region’s top releases in any vintage of the past half decade.