2022 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.

2022 was an extraordinary vintage for Bordeaux, it was blessed with a 95-98 pt review by Wine Spectator who said: "A new paradigm for Bordeaux. Very aromatic and sleek, fresh and pure in feel, with all major varietals performing well; far more consistent than the 2018-2020 trio."

 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.

Dark ruby garnet colour with opaque core and purple reflections, broad and bright rim. Floral bouquet, fresh red heart cherries, delicate notes of currant, a hint of tangerine zest. Juicy, silky and elegant, fine fruit sweetness, creamy texture, velvety tannins, good freshness, mineral and citrusy on the finish, an elegant food wine. ~94 Falstaff

Supple, soft, and creamy, the floral-edged wine is loaded with elegant, polished, sweet, ripe, delicious fruits that flow across your palate with ease. This baby Brane is perfect to enjoy on release while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2038. ~94 The Wine Cellar Insider

A linear and very fine second wine with blackcurrants, and a light bitterness with lemons. Medium body. Pretty tannins. Fresh and bright. 65% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. ~92-93 James Suckling

The 2022 Baron de Brane is a gorgeous second wine. Merlot drives the blend, and that comes through in the wine's plush contours and forward, succulent fruit. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol all meld together in an effortless wine that is all charm. This is beautifully done. ~92 Vinous Media

Supple and lively, there's a nice energy to this with plump strawberry and raspberry fruit and a clean, almost salty tang to the mid palate. Tannins are well integrated, they're at the fore, and give the structure but have a lovely comforting texture. Juicy, clean, easy, well made, a lovely second wine with freshness, cool blue fruit and stony touches. Just a lighter version of everything...tannins, fruit, acidity. Harvest 7-19 September. Yield of 31.5hl/ha. 3.57pH. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. ~92 Decanter

Clear fig and dried fruit notes, but this also has extremely clear freshness and lift, and opens up to show baked earth, pomegranate, tar and black chocolate. Gourmet, well handled. 38% of production. 30th vintage for Henri Lurton at Brane, 31hl/h yield, harvest September 7 to October 10 (last day was the Carmanère). They only used press wine from Cabernet Sauvignon this year (something that has only been true once before), 3.57ph. ~92 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

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