Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château, the 1995 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. It has retained that lovely bouquet of raspberry coulis, strawberry, leather and a touch of iodine - clearly the best aromatics of the nineties. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, though not as grippy as previous bottles, the tannins having melted in recent years. There is something almost Asian about the finish - hints of hoisin lining the finish plus a tingle of Shezhuan pepper on the aftertaste. Probably at its peak, I would aver that this was Henri Lurton's first bonafide success at Brane-Cantenac after taking over at the beginning of the decade. Tasted March 2016.

48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. 45.9 hl/ha. Red core with brick at the rim. Red-fruit bouquet with a hint of coffee as well. Sweet and round on the palate with a semblance of structure in behind. Drying finish. (JL)