Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Brane-Cantenac 2023 – Margaux, Grand Cru Classé, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A highly aromatic and deeply concentrated Margaux showing impressive layering, polished texture, and outstanding fruit density, with oak integration still prominent in its youth. Built for complexity and long-term evolution.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, wild blueberry, cassis, black cherry liqueur, violet petal, sweet cedar, cocoa powder, graphite, subtle vanilla and toasted spice from new oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with silky, refined tannins, dense mid-palate concentration, seamless flow across the palate, and a long, plush finish. Oak remains slightly forward at this stage but clearly destined to integrate.

Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, rosemary lamb, duck confit, porcini risotto, aged Gruyère or Comté.

Verdict
A seductive, high-concentration Margaux with real depth and aromatic brilliance. Oak currently rides slightly high, but the underlying fruit density and texture suggest excellent aging potential and future harmony.

🍷 Personal Pick
The perfume is intoxicating and the fruit core is massive, this just needs time for the oak to melt into the frame. Big upside once the pieces lock together. — 3 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have enjoyed this producers vineyard over many vintage and this might be the best.

The 22 vintage is stunning and as good as it is, 23 might be better based on a somewhat limited exposure at this point.

The entry is glorious…such balance and wire to wire it doesn’t change much.

Green apple, perfect lemon & lime pulp into subtle candy, grapefruit, white stone fruit, kiwi, tropical melons, pineapple, cream reduction, saline, perfect sea fossils, fine powdery taut chalkiness, crisp volcanics, white spice, grey volcanic minerals, limestone marl, mix of fresh & dry stubble herbs, honeysuckle, light caramel, warm lightly done toast, yellow florals, spring flowers with greens, grand waterfall acidity, beautiful structure-tension, incredible balance with an elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and long sets on volcanic minerals and spice.

Decanted 1 hour.

When I first started buying this bottling, it was $50-$60, now $150. Might be my last bought. My white spend has a more limited range than my red. Don’t think I’m alone.

A property Sofia & I have visited in 2015. — 2 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.2

Impressive showing...maybe needs 1-2 years for a more rounded enjoyment but this was already very pleasant. — a month ago

Jason Gelman

9.2

paired this with a skirt steak salad. 👌👌 — 15 days ago

Jorge Pazos

9.2

Hungrybros en Maitea — 3 months ago

Kerri

9.2

One of my favorites from Provence, mineral but a juicy note with peach and strawberry, crisp and light — 5 months ago

Jon Ebsworth

9.5

Tertiary flavours, cherry and cedar wood notes. Really opened up after a long decant. With lamb shoulder. Yum! — 20 days ago

Paul J

9.2

Merry Christmas!!

375ml. Translucent dark gold color with subtle orange hues. Beeswax, honeysuckle, and butterscotch on the nose. Past prime but I like it and maybe this is how it’s supposed to be. Gets better with air. Nice depth and a long finish. — a month ago

with Brooke

JKT

9.0

Balance and soft textures thirty years! Say ten years after acquiring from JR whose email says matriarch passing freed up this library holding back then. — 3 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Ypo mexico — 5 months ago