This wine elicits emotion and respect, with forest floor notes, Cuban cigar and spring flowers leading to cool palate refinement and polished opulence. The elements that make up this wine – including having aged in 70% new oak – are so seamlessly integrated that you feel as if it’s already on your palate the moment you appreciate its deft aromas. Margaux elegance with power, built to last. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2050
Tasted by: Panos Kakaviatos (at Strasbourg, 18 Apr 2022)
Part of Wines of the Year 2022: top-scoring bottles

With a gorgeously evolved, extremely complex bouquet of forest floor, spring flowers, lead pencil shavings and red and black currants, this full-bodied, dense, ruby/plum/purple-colored wine hits the palate with an opulent, fleshy, full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and a very layered, profoundly concentrated style that is, at the same time, both powerful and sublime. This gorgeous wine from proprietor Andre Lurton will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and evolve for 25-30 years. Drink: 2016 - 2046
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

(93-96 pts)
2010: After nearly two decades of mediocre performances, Brane Cantenac has been doing impressive work over the last decade. While the 2010 may not eclipse the 2009 or 2005, it is an exceptional wine from proprietor Henri Lurton. A dense purple color is accompanied by a floral-scented bouquet revealing notes of licorice, graphite and red as well as black currants. Layered, rich and concentrated, this impressively constructed, seamless Margaux has plenty of tannin, but it is buried under the extravagant fruit and glycerin. This rich, pure, authoritative 2010 should drink well young yet keep for 25-30+ years.

Tasted at the UGC tasting in London. The Brane-Cantenac has a nose of immense breeding: blackberry, mineral, subtle cedar notes and brilliant definition. It is one of those Brane vintages that nod towards Pauillac in terms of style and personality. The palate is medium-bodied with super-fine, tensile tannins. It is not a powerful Margaux, but it has fabulous precious and minerality and it glides effortlessly towards the silky finish. This is a superb wine from Henri Lurton and his team. Tasted November 2012.

(94-96 pts)
Tasted on three occasions, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, raised in 70% new oak delivering 13.5% alcohol, the Brane-Cantenac 2010 has that trademark, very Pauillac style note, the Cabernet Sauvignon defining the nascent aromatics with graphite and cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fully ripe tannins, a little conservative on the entry but fanning out beautifully on the tightly wound mid-palate. Judicious use of the fleshy Merlot to balance out the Cabernet, composed and very harmonious towards the “classic” finish. Tasted April 2011.

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Brane-Cantenac features bold scents of redcurrant jelly, kirsch and cassis plus nuances of forest floor, tree bark, fungi and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of bright, energetic fruit with a grainy texture and tons of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

Pretty red fruits such as cherries in this wine with chewy tannins and fresh acidity. Toasted oak too. Needs time to come together. Dense and complete for this estate. Better than 2009. Better after 2016.
-www.jamessuckling.com, 'Tasting Report: 2010 Bordeaux "More Great Vintage"', 3 Feb 2012

A fresh, floral style, with violet and rose aromas followed by a mix of vibrant red currant and blackberry fruit. The dusty finish has good underlying acidity, keeping it racy. —J.M.

2nd Growth Margaux (33% harvest, 41hl/ha, 13.5%) [62CS/30M/8CF] A fine, concentrated cassis cabernet core of fruit to smell; still with a bit of the ’herbal’ Merlot youth, crisp and mineral too; concentrated, elegantly balanced, firm middleweight, very fine, supple tannins for the year and a fresh-without-being-piquant acidity; long, complex, beautifully sustained flavour, on a deliciously fresh ripe fruit; flesh and definition, and succulently sapid fruit, with great fruit and aroma length on the finish. the tannins will need time. The 09 a touch sweeter just as fresh, just as long, just a bit more seductive, the 10 firmer. 2022-40 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2011]

62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. 41.1 hl/ha. First vintage where optical sorting was used. Deep crimson colour. Depth and intensity on the nose. Dark fruit with a stony edge. Definitely more complexity. Palate rich, full and layered but fresh as well. Plentiful tannins but ripe and fully integrated. Long. Plenty of ageing potential. (JL)

Fragrant, delicate, dark black fruit and a quite bitter touch. Rather light for the vintage. Very amenable, just a bit simple. (RH)

Racy, rather light, aromatic nose. Definitely not the weight of some 2010s. A pretty wine but those looking for concentration would be disappointed. Fades a little fast and is just slightly pinched on the end. (JR)

Tasted blind. Deep garnet with soft rim. Meaty mature aroma, with black-olive savour. A bit charry. A very firm grip with dry tannins. Dense with fruit still at the core yet the tannin/acid hit on the finish is a tiny bit harsh. (JH)