The 2018 Cantenac Brown, a Bordeaux Blend from the esteemed Margaux sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a noteworthy wine that has garnered significant praise from a range of professional reviewers. This vintage, produced by Cantenac Brown, is a red wine sealed with a cork and contains 13.5% alcohol.
James Suckling awards this wine a commendable 94 points, noting its "rich and polished aromas of blueberry, lavender, dark chocolate, hazelnut, and sweet tobacco." He describes it as "full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins" and praises its "creamy layers of ripe fruit and wood." Suckling suggests that it will reach its peak from 2024.
Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss is even more enthusiastic, giving it 95 points. He highlights the "ripe black fruits" and "rich, generous tannins," mentioning that this estate is "one to watch" as it continues to improve. Voss predicts that the wine will be ready to drink from 2026 onwards.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate provides a slightly more restrained score of 92+, but still praises the wine's "medium to deep garnet-purple color" and its "fragrant scents of redcurrant jelly, Morello cherries, plum preserves, and fresh blackcurrants." She describes the palate as "medium-bodied" with a "sturdy frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness."
Jeff Leve of The Wine Cellar Insider also awards the wine 95 points, describing it as "concentrated, lush, and voluptuously textured." He emphasizes its "intensity, length, and richness," and recommends aging it for at least seven years, suggesting it will be a "gorgeous wine for the following two decades."
Decanter gives it a score of 94, calling it "delicious" and "silky in texture," with "luscious black fruits, exotic spiced liquorice, and sweet blackberry." They note that the wine has "an impressive construction" and a "sense of bursting out of its borders."
Vinous's Neal Martin also gives it 94 points, highlighting its "very pure" nose and "beautifully defined" palate. He describes it as "quintessential Margaux" and praises its "great tension towards the finish."
Wine Spectator's J.M. echoes these sentiments with another 94-point score, noting its "mix of smoldering tobacco, espresso crema, and singed alder notes" and suggesting that "time will likely add that last bit of refinement."
Lastly, Jeb Dunnuck awards the wine 92 points, calling it a "classic, elegant Margaux" with a "pretty perfume of red and black currants, sandalwood, dried flowers, and cedar pencil." He mentions its "fine tannins" and "wonderfully balanced, classical style."
In summary, the 2018 Cantenac Brown is a highly regarded wine, praised for its rich aromas, balanced structure, and potential for aging. It is recommended to be cellared for a few more years to fully appreciate its complex flavors and textures.