| Producer | Château Brane-Cantenac |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | Margaux |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Sku | 18771 |
| Size | 750ml |
Nestled in the heart of the prestigious Margaux appellation, Château Brane-Cantenac has been a cornerstone of Bordeaux’s Left Bank since its elevation to Second Growth status in 1855. Spanning 75 hectares, this historic estate is celebrated for crafting wines that strike a graceful balance between power and precision—rich in character, yet refined in structure.
Under the stewardship of Henri Lurton since 1992, Brane-Cantenac has undergone a quiet transformation. With a commitment to both innovation and tradition, Lurton has elevated the estate’s reputation, ensuring its wines consistently embody the depth and nuance of their exceptional terroir. The vineyard composition—65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc—reflects a deep understanding of the land, yielding wines that are layered, age-worthy, and unmistakably Margaux.
A tremendous Margaux, the 2016 offers the quintessential elegance of the appellation as well as plenty of density, concentration, and ripe tannins. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedarwood, and flowery incense all emerge from the glass, and it builds nicely with air, offering medium to full body, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is classic Margaux as well as a classic 2016. It’s already approachable, and I doubt it will close down, yet it’s going to develop additional nuances with another 4-6 years of bottle age and have 25-30 years of prime drinking.
This firm, structured wine is solid with tannins and with the weight associated with the vin-tage. The fruitiness is as important, an explosion of rich berry flavors that will give pleasure as the wine matures. Drink from 2025. (RV)
It's clear how well this wine is constructed in 2016. Vibrant cassis and violet notes are joined by a powerful shot of freshness then an austere finish with touches of white pepper, showing poise and power. A touch of Carmenère is now making a regular appearance in this wine. It represents 39% of the estate's production, from a 51hl/ha yield in 2016. Drinking window 2025-2045. (JA)
"The 2016 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere picked from 22 September until 17 October (the tiny parcel of Carmenere picked three days later). The yields came in at 51 hectoliters per hectare and it is matured in 75% new oak and 25% one-year-old barrels, the final alcohol level 13.3%. It has a beautifully defined, very detailed bouquet with mineral-rich black fruit laced with cedar and graphite notes, living up to its nom de plume as the "Pauillac of Margaux." The palate is simply the best that I have ever tasted at the estate, without question. This has presence, but also weightlessness, filigree tannin and perfectly pitched acidity, with real intensity and drive. The tension here is outstanding and the persistence is incredibly long. It is not the showiest of all the 2016s by a long stretch, and yet it is everything you could possibly want from a Margaux. Like Beychevelle this year, the 2016 Brane-Cantenac puts recent vintages in the shade, thanks not only to the growing season, but also a new punching down system in their gravity-fed winery that was completed in 2015. The 2016 is a benchmark against which future vintages will be compared."
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