Powerful carmine-red colour, at the beginning of its drinking window but with decades ahead. Love the grain of the tannins that sets off and deepens the dark berry fruits, cocoa bean, slate, crayon, campfire smoke. Characterful, excellent quality with space to improve further. 41hl/h yield, harvest September 27 to October 14, 70% new French oak, 3.57ph, Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

It’s hard not to be wowed by this gorgeous wine – such character and power is translated through the aromas which erupt from the glass with plump forest berries, pine needles and cumin spice. It’s still so fresh, with a hard seam of acidity, a graphite core and bubbling promise – this will continue to ebb and flow with age.

Tasted on three occasions a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc raised in 70% new oak delivering 13.5% alcohol the Brane-Cantenac 2010 has that trademark very Pauillac style note the Cabernet Sauvignon defining the nascent aromatics with graphite and cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fully ripe tannins a little conservative on the entry but fanning out beautifully on the tightly wound mid-palate. Judicious use of the fleshy Merlot to balance out the Cabernet composed and very harmonious towards the "classic" finish.

The 2010 Château Brane-Cantenac appears to have shut down, yet it still shows incredible potential. Revealing a deep plum hue as well as terrific darker currant, smoked tobacco, licorice, graphite, and subtle floral notes, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, rich, concentrated mouthfeel, beautifully sweet tannins, and a great finish. It has an incredible amount of sweet fruit, plenty of structure, and a great mid-palate; however, it needs another 4-5 years of bottle age to hit prime time. I followed this bottle for multiple days, and it was just about impervious to air and should have another 2+ decades of overall longevity.

Great nose, packed with fresh flowers, cherries, earth, spice and jam. Focused, refined, elegant and concentrated with layers of sweet, ripe, lush, fruits, blending 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, this is the best vintage of Brane Cantenac I’ve ever tasted. Look for this to age well. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2010&wine=Chateau%20Brane-Cantenac

The 2010 Brane-Cantenac marked the first year that optical sorting was used and the replanting of a parcel of Petit Verdot. This has long been a favourite vintage, the nose in a class of its own with mineral-driven black fruit, graphite and just a touch of Earl Grey. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Beautifully balanced with just a slight savoury element beginning to emerge towards the finish, this blossoms in the glass and ultimately has a little more panache and grandeur than the impressive 2009. Outstanding. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025. -- Neal Martin

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Brane-Cantenac features bold scents of redcurrant jelly, kirsch and cassis plus nuances of forest floor, tree bark, fungi and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of bright, energetic fruit with a grainy texture and tons of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.- LPB

One of the Lurton properties in Margaux, Brane Cantenac is showing the richness of its finely placed vineyard in this 2010. Smoky wood and ripe blackberry are among the flavors of a wine that is complex, complete and concentrated. It will certainly age well.