(98-100 points) Black cherries, currants, roses, violets, spice, and forest floor create the aromatics. On the palate, the elegance and purity of the fruit are instantly recognizable. The lift and vibrancy, paired with concentration and sensuality, set this apart. The finish starts strong and continues seamlessly. 2025 marks the Lurton family's 100th anniversary of owning the vineyard. You can expect to see a special label celebrating the occasion. The 2025 is in competition with the 2022 as the best vintage ever produced at the estate. The wine blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 1% Carmenere, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13.3% ABV, 3.62 pH. Harvesting took place September 2 - September 19. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2029-2065. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2025&wine=Chateau%20Brane-Cantenac

(96-98 points) (Margaux; 80% Cabernet Sauvignon; 18% Merlot; 1% Carménère; 1% Cabernet Franc; a final yield of 32.2 hl/ha; pH 3.62; 13.3% alcohol; 12% press wine; tasted twice, first at the UGCB press tasting at the Cité du Vin and then with Christophe Capdeville at Brane Cantenac). Look out for the special centennial label to mark 100 years of the Lurton family's ownership. This is divine aromatically and yet also delivers an incredible density and compactness in the mid-palate that only Brane seems to be able to achieve with this much clarity, finesse, elegance and precision. There's a gentle and very natural sweetness to the aromatics. This is a wine of a paradoxical brilliance given the constrast between its staggering freshness and the climatic conditions from which it was forged. The floral notes are delicate and subtle - lily of the valley, perhaps a little mimosa and iris. There's a touch of incense too. Brane Cantenac in 2025 is texturally sublime, with an amazing sensation of layering and a dynamic freshness that seems to well up from below very naturally. Quite simply, this is a triumph. 96-98

(96-98 points) Cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and tobacco all define the 2025 Château Brane-Cantenac, a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 1% each Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Petit Verdot that's being raised in 100% new French oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a focused, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful concentration and depth, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Hitting 13.5% alcohol, it's a brilliant success in the vintage and should be snatched up by readers.

Ripe and juicy blackcurrant aromas, really pure and expressive, fruit forward with iris notes as well. Juicy and friendly with such a lifted, bright and energetic core but grippy too, really wide and filling with the structure and concentration matching the acidity step for step. Firm and streamlined, but there’s purity and I do love the slightly more muscular aspect to this. Maybe less charming than previous vintages but more sophisticated. Clarity is exceptional. Lovely and long. 1% Carménère completes the blend. 3.62pH. 12.1% press wine.

Dark ruby garnet, deep core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Floral touch, a hint of cassis, nuances of red cherries, mineral, hints of precious wood. Juicy, cherries and cranberries, finesse-rich acid structure, ripe, supporting tannins, elegant and long-lasting, very good length, mineral finish, salty aftertaste, great promise for the future.

This is luscious and full of wonderfully bright fruits, great concentration, cushion of air underneath, high Cabernet and it comes through in the floral aromatics, clearly a plentiful tannic structure but luscious and layered damson and black cherry. Yes yes yes. 12.10% press wine. 3.62 pH. Tasted twice. 100 years of the Lurtons at Brane.

(94-97+ points) Fruity, juicy nose, gobs of cherry-like vibrant, pure fruit in the nose. This is a very elegant Brane Cantenac, smooth round and pleasing with a fine tannic backbone. The freshness goes on throughout the entire wine and you find elegant notes of red berries, spices and cabernet. This should develop as a classical Brane and probably be ready for consumption a bit earlier than normal.

(95-97 points) Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Brane-Cantenac springs from the glass with spritely notes of blackberries and red currants, followed by underlying hints of lilacs, black olives, crushed rocks, and wild sage. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet and racy with firm, grainy tannins and vibrant black and red berry flavors, plus a long mineral-laced finish.

(95-97 points) The 2025 Brane-Cantenac is incredibly polished right out of the gate. Floral overtones lead into a core of blue/purplish fruit, spice, new leather, tobacco, lavender and a kiss of French oak. Silky tannins lend shape and finesse. The aromatics alone are so compelling, but everything about the 2025 speaks to balance. It’s a magnificent effort from proprietor Henri Lurton and his team. One of the highlights of the vintage. - By Antonio Galloni on April 2026

(93-96 points) A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenère (the latter harvested by the winery team after everything else has been picked), the 2025 Brane-Cantenac offers up a rich bouquet of crème de cassis, plums and spices, framed by a deft touch of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and lively, with powdery tannins that contribute youthful grip on the finish, it checks in at a very classical 13.3% alcohol and pH of 3.62.