An excellent second bottle, showing that this wine needs time to bed down further. It remains extremely well knitted together, showing excellent structure and spice, full of carefully placed, controlled cassis fruits joined by touches of cigar box and grilled almonds. The tannins are still gripping tightly around the fruit, so give it another three or four years.

Confident ruby colour, with slow releasing aromatics on the opening, this is impressive, one of the best 2012s in the appellation. Blackberry and damson fruits, clear graphite and crayon flavour and slate textured tannins. Great stuff, you can drink this now and be very happy, but there are decades ahead. Harvest September 27 to October 16, 70% new French oak for ageing, 3.69ph, 45.5hl/h yield, Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

The 2012 Brane-Cantenac was a relatively late-ripening vintage for which harvest finished on October 16. This is far better than the 2011 with more fruit and vigour. Finely delineated blackberry, wild hedgerow and graphite scents continue to lend it a Pauillac-like allure. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and vivid black fruit laced with white pepper, leather and tobacco. Very harmonious and quite elegant in style, this has a very endearing poise on the finish. The 2012 is just entering its drinking window now and should give another 20 years' drinking pleasure. Impressive for the vintage. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025. -- Neal Martin

Licorice, cocoa, forest floor and sweet black cherry aromas lead you to a spicy, fresh, silky, crisp, sweet and tart mouthful of red fruits in an elegant styling. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2012&wine=Chateau%20Brane-Cantenac

Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château, the 2012 Brane-Cantenac, now in bottle, has developed a satisfying bouquet of blackberry, tar and tobacco, keeping within the Brane-Cantenac style, but perhaps delivering a little more fruit intensity than it showed out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and well-judged acidity. There is a pleasant fleshiness here with a salinity on the finish that urges another sip. This is commendable for the vintage, although I would suggest it will offer more pleasure in its youth, rather than something that I would insist upon cellaring. Tasted January 2016. - Neal Martin

The 2012 Brane-Cantenac is medium to deep garnet colored. It opens with tobacco leaf, leather, and tilled earth scents over a core of prunes and mince pies, plus a suggestion of dried sage. The medium-bodied palate is a little thin yet has nice freshness, offering chewy tannins and a savory finish.

Plush yet focused, with a loam-tinged structure carrying dark plum, blackberry coulis and tobacco notes. Cuts a broad swath through the finish, with an echo of freshly drawn espresso. Solid, with a pleasant old-school twinge. Best from 2016 through 2022. 9,250 cases made. — JM