This is really structured, with intense tannins that run the length of the wine and give it verve and vibe. Medium-bodied with lovely berry, light vanilla and currant flavors. The tannins are exceptional. This is a very structured Margaux that needs three or four years to come around. Best after 2028.

Spiced cumin, cocoa bean, liquorice, plenty of depth and character without sacrificing elegance. Supple tannins, cassis and blueberry fruit, fine tannins that keep everything in check, this has decades ahead of it. Harvest September 4 to October 2, 100% new oak barrels, 3.59ph. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director. Henri's father Lucien Lurton passed away on March 25 of this year.

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. Ageing 18 months, 100 new oak. 13.7% press wine. 40% grand vin production.

The 2023 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, and 1% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in all new French oak. Impressive aromatics of ripe red, blue, and black fruits intermix with graphite, smoky tobacco, and spice on the nose. It's deep, dense, and concentrated on the palate, with integrated acidity and ripe tannins. This is shockingly concentrated, pure, and just a brilliant 2023 that will evolve gracefully for 30+ years. Drink 2028-2058.

The complex set of aromatics displays flowers, cocoa, espresso, cigar box, and red fruits. On the palate, the wine is just as good, if not better, with its elegant, soft, refined profile, the perfect backdrop for its sweet, ripe red fruits that linger long after the wine has left your glass. This is another vintage that Brane Cantenac lovers should have in their cellars. The wine blends 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. Drink from 2029-2047. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bordeaux-wine-producer-profiles/bordeaux/margaux/brane-cantenac/

(TWI 94-96 points) The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of blackcurrant jelly, boysenberries, and black raspberries slowly emerge from the glass, giving way to notions of charcoal, pencil lead, and a waft of tree bark. The medium-bodied palate has a solid structure of racy acidity and firm, ripe, grainy tannins supporting the tightly wound black and red fruit flavors, finishing on a lingering mineral note. The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with pH 3.59. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2023 Brane‑Cantenac is deep garnet‑purple in color. After a little coaxing, it waltzes out with gregarious notes of warm cassis, mulberries, and cedar, followed by nuances of pencil shavings and mossy tree bark. The medium‑bodied palate delivers impressive intensity with firm, fine‑grained tannins and a racy backbone, finishing long and energetic. Nicely done! The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot (pH 3.59).

(96+ points) The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is deep, bold and explosive, yet also closed in on itself. That won't be a problem in another few years' time, but today, the Grand Vin is embryonic. Time in the glass brings out dark red fruit, cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, mint and spice. Brane-Cantenac remains a wine of timeless classicism, a wine that embodies all the beauty and charm that only Bordeaux is capable of. Floral notes lift the dense, sustained finish. Superb. - Antonio Galloni

(WA 93-95 points) The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot (which saw some saignée), 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère and 1% Petit Verdot, and it completed its malolactic fermentation in barrels as has been the rule at this estate since the 1990s. Offering up aromas of dark cherries, cassis and spices framed by creamy new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a creamy core of fruit and a long, gently lactic finish. - William Kelley