Showing beautifully, the 2009 Château Brane-Cantenac is loaded with classic Margaux notes of sandalwood, dried flowers, spice, truffle, and blackcurrants. Based on 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied and has a beautifully textured, elegant mouthfeel, terrific mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's a quintessential, elegant yet textured, concentrated Margaux to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.

Plenty of Margaux balance and effortless elegance here, showcasing a concentrated blackcurrant and blackberry fruit character. Soft smoky oak comes in on the finish, with fine tannins and gentle floral aromatics. Only 37% of the production make it into the 1st wine, aged in 70% new oak. The vineyard here lies across a gravel outcrop, with certain sections that are sandy-gravel, with the 1st wine invariably Cabernet Sauvignon dominant.

Warm and rounded this spicy wine has wood flavors just showing through the ripe fruit. It is already delicious with rich blackberry flavors right up front although its aging potential is evident with the concentrated deep structure.

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. A typical Brane-Cantenac on the nose: introverted a little herbaceous composed timid but beautifully composed. Not a show-stopper but then again Brane-Cantenac never is. With further aeration there is just a touch of black tea. The palate is very refined with a slight greenness on the entry firm in the mouth with tertiary tannins long on the finish with just a touch of austerity. Subtle bell pepper notes decorating the finish. I think the 2010 will prove to be the better wine but this is very pleasing and it seems to grow with each sip. Tasted October 2011. 93+

Just starting to lighten in color, you find cigar box, tobacco leaf, spice, wet forest leaf and cassis in the nose. Medium bodied, elegant, fresh and silky, the red cherry and plums are on the bright side, with good freshness in the finish. The wine was made from blending 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2009&wine=Chateau%20Brane-Cantenac

Ripe and fleshy with an enticing mix of Linzer torte currant con-fiture and crushed plum fruit offset by hints of briar and bay leaf. The long finish lets roasted apple wood singed iron and tobacco leaf notes fill in while staying plush in feel. Combines the ripeness of the vintage with a nice old-school feel. Best from 2013 through 2025.

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Brane-Cantenac displays notes of warm red and black plums, Morello cherries and mulberries with hints of spice cake and earth. Medium-bodied, elegant, soft and fleshy, it delivers a lively line of freshness and an earthy finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown