A sexy, style of wine from the Lurtons at Brane-Cantenac, this wine (a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc) has a stunning nose of forest floor, licorice, blackcurrants, plums and spring flowers. Soft tannin, full-bodied opulence and beautifully textured, lush richness, make for a brilliant wine from this large, 180-acre vineyard. In spite of the wine’s stunning forward fragrance and lushness, the color still looks as if it is 3-4 years old, rather than a decade. This is a big-time winner in 2005 and should drink well for at least another 25+ years.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #219, Jun 2015)

Dark, brick rimmed red; freshly sweet and faintly herbaceous (the Merlot) early bouquet; elegantly balanced, fresh, moderately concentrated medium full wine with a fine tannin; a pure, crisp, freshly sweet fruit, delicate, subtle, long, if for many modern palates a touch on the leaner side; but this is complex and long and complete in its slightly more old fashioned style, with a lovely sweetness of fruit, fine texture and fruit fragrant length. [Very different from, but just as good as, Lascombes]. Needs a few years ideally. 2020-30+

The Château Brane-Cantenac 2005 has a very classy bouquet, a typical "BC" with Pauillac aspirations: dense black fruit, graphite and cedar, reserved but with sublime focus. The palate is medium-bodied with dense black fruit, salted licorice and white pepper, although I am a little disturbed by a green-ish tinge that becomes more pronounced on the finish. I like the style of this wine, but that just upsets the finish.

– eRobertParker.com, Feb 2015