2020 Chateau Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane Margaux

This estate got its start as Guilhem-Hosten, it wasn’t until the Baron of Brane purchased the estate that it took on its current moniker. For the Baron to make this purchase he had to raise funds, he achieved this by selling another property that he owned, that just happened to be Mouton Rothschild. 

Since its early years, owners and wine enthusiasts saw the potential this estate had. But it was until the beginning of this century that it started living up to that potential. That being said, Brane-Cantenac is producing wines better than ever before and improving quality every year.  

Today, this 2nd growth estate is owned by the Lurton family. The Lurton family is Bordeaux royalty, this family owns over 20 estates, including 6 classified growths like Chateau Desmirail, and Haut-Bages Libéral.

Brane-Cantenac is located in one of the best terroirs in the world: Margaux, this appellation is known for producing extremely elegant wines with a finesse that’s out of this world. Brane possesses some of Margaux’s very finest plots. The Chateau is positioned on an illustrious plateau, with stony soils forcing the roots of the vines to delve deep into the earth for sustenance.

Baron de Brane is Brane-Cantenac’s second wine. Its name pays homage to the famous Baron Jacques-Maxime de Brane, the ’Napoléon des Vignes’, owner of the property in the 19th Century.

Second wines are some of the best buys Bordeaux has to offer. Wines that hail from some of the most prized vineyards in the world, crafted by the best, most innovative winemaking teams out there.But, (the best part) they sell at a fraction of the price that the Grand Vin.

The Médoc region in Bordeaux features six unique terraces. Terrace 4, the finest, has sandy soil with gravel and 10-20% clay, ideal for vine growth by balancing water retention and release. Château Brane-Cantenac, using Terrace 4 vines, produces exceptional wines. Their 2019 vintage, crafted by Henri Lurton, exemplifies the elegance and power of this unique terroir.

2020 was a great year for the Left Bank. Vinous Media awarded this year with a 97-point review and said: "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."

 54 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 45 % Merlot, 1 % Carmenère. Beautiful dark purple color with violet hues. The nose intoxicates with its floral fragrance. Peonie and violet mingle with strawberry, dark cherry, and blackcurrant aromas; an aromatic complexity punctuated by a very fine wooden hint. The wine is supple and smooth on the entry, developing at the same time on a medium-bodied and fresh mid-palate, the silky and already well-melted tannins make this wine of great finesse. The aromas of juicy dark cherry, strawberry, and violet candy, reappear to accentuate the greediness of this wine. A wine of beautiful balance with long aging potential.

Attractive aromasof dark and blue fruit, some violets, walnut and graphite. It’s medium-bodied with finely grained tannins and a delicate, vivid blue fruit character. Chalky finish. Try after 2024. ~ 92 James Suckling

The 2020 Baron de Brane is a heady, exuberant wine. Dark red/purplish fruit, mocha, chocolate, lavender, spice and new leather are all beautifully delineated. Fine tannins, lifted aromatics and succulent fruit are all very nicely balanced. The 2020 is quite flashy yet retains a good bit of energy, too, with floral top notes that lift the finish nicely. It's a gorgeous second wine from Henri Lurton and Brane-Cantenac. ~92 Vinous Media

Roses, smoke, spice and red currants form the core of this forward, medium-bodied, silky textured wine that is already showing well. The refined palate, with all of its supple, creamy red fruits hits everything just right. This is perfect to enjoy on release while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. This is a good example of a baby Brane Cantenac. Drink from 2023-2034. ~92 The Wine Cellar Insider

Fine toast, pure with good intensity displaying classic dark fruit, notably cassis with fine tobacco, dense and rounded palate with elegant tannin and fine length. ~92 Andreas Larsson,Best sommelier of the world 2007 AIS

An exceptionally good second wine, succulent black cherry and damson fruit, easy to approach with vibrant mint notes and silky, well-textured tannins, 15% new oak. Good density. ~92 Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

The second wine of the estate, the 2020 Baron De Brane is a softer, more rounded, mouth-filling Margaux offering plenty of ripe, dark fruits, velvety tannins, and medium to full-bodied richness. It doesn't have the precision or length of the Grand Vin, but it offers lots of character. ~90 Jeb Dunnuck

Dark ruby, purple reflections, soft brightening on the rim. Subtle floral notes, hints of liquorice, black cherries, hints of plums, inviting bouquet. Medium bodied, red berries and fresh, ripe cherries, fine tannins, mineral and well developed, a versatile food companion. ~90 Falstaff

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