The 2022 Brane-Cantenac is a Bordeaux blend from Margaux, France, produced by Brane-Cantenac. This red wine is composed primarily of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, with the remaining 3% made up of Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, and Petit Verdot. It has garnered significant praise from several well-regarded reviewers, making it one of the standout wines of its vintage.
William Kelley from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it a score of 97, noting its aromas of dark berries, crème de cassis, black truffles, loamy soil, burning embers, and violets. He described it as "deep and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, terrific concentration, and lively acids," concluding with a "long, perfumed finish."
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded the wine an impressive 98 points, highlighting its "beautiful elegance, symmetry, and balance." He emphasized the wine's "length, purity, and refinement," making it "effortless to taste." Leve also pointed out the wine's early harvest, the earliest in the estate's history, and its production from only 42% of the harvest.
James Suckling, who also rated the wine 97, praised its "intense freshness and energy" and the "real clarity" of its Cabernet Sauvignon, noting flavors of blackcurrants and flowers. He described it as "firm and racy with lots of lemon rind and intensity."
Jeb Dunnuck shared similar enthusiasm, scoring it 98 and calling it a "reference point vintage for this château." He admired its "incredible aromatics of crème de cassis, lead pencil, sandalwood, and spring flowers" and its "ultra-fine tannins" and "great mid-palate."
Jane Anson also granted the wine 98 points, emphasizing its "exceptional balance" and "lush damson and cassis fruits." She mentioned the meticulous approach to oak aging and the significance of old vine Cabernet Sauvignon planted in the 1950s and 1960s.
Vinous's Neal Martin, who also gave it a high score of 98, described the wine as "well-defined and fresh," with a "hidden depth" that will become more apparent post-bottling. He called it "elegant and unashamedly classic in style."
Decanter, echoing the sentiments of other reviewers, awarded the wine 98 points, praising its "smooth, succulent, and velvety" texture and its "excellent clarity and purity of fruit."
Lastly, The Wine Independent, with a score of 97, highlighted the wine's "bright, energetic black and red berry layers" and its "super-ripe, finely grained tannins."
Overall, the 2022 Brane-Cantenac is a highly acclaimed wine, celebrated for its balance, elegance, and depth, making it a must-try for Bordeaux enthusiasts.