Château Brane-Cantenac 2022

Wineadvocate

A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc, Carmenère and Petit Verdot, the 2022 Brane-Cantenac unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, crème de cassis, black truffles, loamy soil, burning embers and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, terrific concentration and lively acids, it concludes with a long, perfumed finish. This is a terrific 2022 that may rival or even surpass the 2019 if it realizes all its potential in bottle. - WK 04/2023

Vinous

The 2022 Brane-Cantenac, as usual, is a wine that you must sit and contemplate before words gush forth. It was picked from 7 September to 10 October (their tiny plot of Carmenère) at 31.5hL/ha and contains 16% vin de presse from the Cabernet Sauvignon. It is well-defined and fresh, a very subtle Margaux, precise with blackberry, wild strawberry, cedar and tobacco scents. As previous vintages have proven, there's a kind of "hidden depth" that will become apparent post-bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very elegant and unashamedly classic in style. This is blessed with haunting poise, composed and detailed on the finish. This Margaux is not a show stopper, which in any case, is not really Henri Lurton/Brane Cantenac’s signature style. Instead, it is a wine that 15 to 20 years down the road, you are going to treasure. - NM 04/2023

Beck

Le style de Brane-Cantenac est bien mis en évidence avec un boisé qui évoque la torréfaction ainsi que d'invitantes notes de fruits noirs et d'eucalyptus. L'attaque est dense et suave. Le vin a du corps, des tannins veloutés, et une puissance bien canalisée idéalement couplée à une rafraîchissante tension qui se manifeste en fin de bouche. Brane-Cantenac reste Brane-Cantenac, d'une manière démonstrative et assumée avec tout le charme que cela implique mais aussi toute l'harmonie qui est nécessaire à ce type de construction. Un vin brillant, une fois encore ! J'ai vu quelques vins qui passent complètement à travers du millésime, dans la mesure où il performe aussi bien que d'habitude pratiquement sans changer de style. Ajoutons-y un peu de finesse, d'énergie, d'éclat aromatique et le tour est joué ! Un très grand Brane-Cantenac. - 04/2023

Suckling

A long and very linear red for Margaux with intense freshness and energy. The cabernet sauvignon shows real clarity with blackcurrants and flowers. Crushed stone. Firm and racy with lots of lemon rind and intensity. 74% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 1% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot and 1% carmenere. - 04/2023

Dunnuck

I was absolutely blown away by the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac, which looks to be a reference point vintage for this château. Based on 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, and Petit Verdot, it sports a deep purple hue to go with incredible aromatics of crème de cassis, lead pencil, sandalwood, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shines for its purity of fruit, has ultra-fine tannins, a great mid-palate, and one heck of a finish. It hit 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.6, and like many estates today, they utilized quite a bit of press wine (15%) in the final blend. This is clearly up with the finest wines from the appellation and is well worth seeking out. - 05/2023