Chateau Brane-Cantenac Margaux 2016 750ml

Name: Chateau Brane-Cantenac Margaux 2016 750ml
Brand: Chateau Brane-Cantenac
SKU: 818968
Price: 108.29 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 95.8 (8 reviews)

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SKU 818968

$108.29/bottle

7 in stock

Availability: There are 7 bottles available for Rapid Shipment or in-store pick up at our location in Ballston Lake, N.Y. Additional bottles of this product are available for online ordering and can be picked up or shipped from our location within 4-6 business days. See FAQ for more.

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WA 98pts

JS 97pts

VM 96pts

DC 96pts

JD 96pts

WE 95pts

TWI 95pts

WS 93pts

See professional reviews

The 2016 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere picked from 22 September until 17 October (the tiny parcel of Carmenere picked three days later). The yields came in at 51 hectoliters per hectare and it is matured in 75% new oak and 25% one-year-old barrels, the final alcohol level 13.3%. It has a beautifully defined, very detailed bouquet with mineral-rich black fruit laced with cedar and graphite notes, living up to its nom de plume as the “Pauillac of Margaux.” The palate is simply the best that I have ever tasted at the estate, without question. This has presence, but also weightlessness, filigree tannin and perfectly pitched acidity, with real intensity and drive. The tension here is outstanding and the persistence is incredibly long. It is not the showiest of all the 2016s by a long stretch, and yet it is everything you could possibly want from a Margaux. Like Beychevelle this year, the 2016 Brane-Cantenac puts recent vintages in the shade, thanks not only to the growing season, but also a new punching down system in their gravity-fed winery that was completed in 2015. The 2016 is a benchmark against which future vintages will be compared.

Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: Margaux

Size: 750ml
Color: Red
Alcohol by Vol: 13.5%

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750ml $108.29/bottle ✓

750ml 12 pack $108.25/bottle Pre-arrival

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SKU: 818968 Category: Left Bank Bordeaux

More about this item

Winery

Chateau Brane-Cantenac

Shop all from Chateau Brane-Cantenac

Varietal

Red Bordeaux

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act â€“ the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.

Country

France

France, often regarded as the heart of the wine world, boasts a rich history, diverse terroirs, and a captivating variety of grape varietals. From the renowned vineyards of Bordeaux to the picturesque landscapes of Burgundy, France offers a wine lover’s dream journey. Whether you’re new to the world of wine or a seasoned enthusiast looking […]

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Region

Bordeaux

Bordeaux: The Pinnacle of Terroir Expression In the illustrious realm of wine, Bordeaux stands as a beacon of excellence, where history, tradition, and terroir converge to create some of the world’s most iconic wines. Bordeaux’s rich mosaic of vineyards is characterized by the left bank, right bank, and the sweet symphony of Sauternes. Each of […]

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Appellation

Margaux

The Margaux appellation of France's legendary Bordeaux wine region is one of the world's most famous and highly respected viticultural areas. For centuries, Margaux has been deeply associated with extremely fine wines of the highest quality, made using traditional and time-honored techniques in order to extract the very best, most refined and elegant flavors and aromas from the Bordeaux varietal grapes which grow there. Margaux wines are almost always blended, using two or three key Bordeaux grapes, commonly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc (amongst others). The blending techniques and quantities have been passed down through the generations in the ancestral chateaus which make up the region, and quality and prestige has never been allowed to falter, making Margaux one of the undisputed jewels in France's already glittering crown.

Ratings & Reviews

WA 98pts

Wine Advocate

The 2016 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere picked from 22 September until 17 October (the tiny parcel of Carmenere picked three days later). The yields came in at 51 hectoliters per hectare and it is matured in 75% new oak and 25% one-year-old barrels, the final alcohol level 13.3%. It has a beautifully defined, very detailed bouquet with mineral-rich black fruit laced with cedar and graphite notes, living up to its nom de plume as the "Pauillac of Margaux." The palate is simply the best that I have ever tasted at the estate, without question. This has presence, but also weightlessness, filigree tannin and perfectly pitched acidity, with real intensity and drive. The tension here is outstanding and the persistence is incredibly long. It is not the showiest of all the 2016s by a long stretch, and yet it is everything you could possibly want from a Margaux. Like Beychevelle this year, the 2016 Brane-Cantenac puts recent vintages in the shade, thanks not only to the growing season, but also a new punching down system in their gravity-fed winery that was completed in 2015. The 2016 is a benchmark against which future vintages will be compared.

JS 97pts

James Suckling

The nose is herbal and refined. The tannins are superb and close-knit, with a black olive note. Medium- to full-bodied with flavors that are evenly packed and extremely long. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% carmenere. Drinkable now, but better from 2027 and will age gracefully for years. From a vertical tasting at the winery.

VM 96pts

Vinous Media

The 2016 Brane-Cantenac has the most extravagant bouquet by far, with vivacious black and blue fruit, bunches of violet, potpourri and heather. Beautiful definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation, quite sapid in style, not as luxuriant as the nose, and the finish seems to have clammed up at the moment. But just give this time. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

DC 96pts

Decanter

Racy aromatic nobility, with cassis, white flower, graphite and blackberry. A second growth for a rather friendly price (in context), this wine displays subtle density, power, freshness and elegance. It has the tannic structure for the long haul, but is already silky in its elegance. Best to wait just a few more years however for a more optimal drinking window.

JD 96pts

Jeb Dunnuck

A brilliant, reference point level wine from this château, the 2016 Château Brane-Cantenac sports a deep purple hue as well as sensational notes of cassis, currants, iron, lead pencil, sappy tobacco, and leafy herbs. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenère and aged 18 months in 70% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, integrated tannins, and just about flawless balance. It checks in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.57. Don't miss this stunning 2016. I'd be happy with cases in the cellar. Hide bottles for another 3-5 years and it will see its 50th birthday in fine form. Drink 2029-2076. The 2016 was harvested from September 22 to October 17, hitting 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.57.

WE 95pts

Wine Enthusiast

This firm, structured wine is solid with tannins and with the weight associated with the vintage. The fruitiness is as important, an explosion of rich berry flavors that will give pleasure as the wine matures. Drink from 2025. (Cellar Selection)

TWI 95pts

The Wine Independent

Composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenere, the 2016 Brane-Cantenac is deep garnet-purple colored. It is a little broody, with notes of tar and rubber giving way to a core of creme de cassis, baked plums, and boysenberries, plus hints of violets, espresso, and black olives. Medium-bodied and splendidly concentrated, the palate is a ripe, juicy black berry behemoth, featuring ripe, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fruity.

WS 93pts

Wine Spectator

Shows a coffee edge, along with tobacco and bay notes that meld steadily into the core of steeped plum and black cherry fruit. The fleshy finish lets the bay element take an encore. A touch old-school. Score range: 90-93