Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Brio de Cantenac Brown – 2020
Margaux, Bordeaux – France 🇫🇷

Overview
Brio is the second wine of Château Cantenac Brown, offering a more accessible take on Margaux. This 2020 vintage is composed of 62% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak (25% new) to balance fruit, structure, and approachability. 
Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red fruits—raspberry, red currant—merge with cedar, baking spice, and subtle floral lift. Earthy and graphite tones bring depth.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full body, with soft but persistent tannins. The wine opens smoothly and finishes long with fruit and spice echoing.

Food Pairings
Roast lamb, duck breast, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses. Also pairs beautifully with charcuterie.

Verdict
A concentrated, value-driven Margaux that shows the pedigree of Cantenac Brown. The 2020 Brio balances power and elegance — drink now or cellar for 8–12 years. 🍷 cheers!

Did You Know? 📌
Second wines (like Brio) are often sourced from younger vines or lots not selected for the Grand Vin, yet in 2020 Cantenac Brown treated it with care: the blend leans more Merlot than the Grand Vin to give earlier approachability. — 17 hours ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Alto de Cantenac Brown, 2022
Margaux (Left Bank) – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A rare white from the Left Bank, produced by Château Cantenac Brown, a 3rd Growth estate in Margaux. Crafted from 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon, sourced from a tiny 1.8-hectare parcel planted specifically for this cuvée. Fermented in oak barrels (90% one-year-old French oak), giving it elegance and complexity in limited quantities.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: perfumed, layered with white flowers, citrus zest, mandarin, and ripe stone fruits, accented by delicate oak spice and minerality.
Palate: vibrant and structured, unfolding flavors of lemon curd, peach skin, and hints of vanilla, with a chalky mineral lift and refined texture.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full-bodied, with zesty acidity, refined minerality, and a silky finish. The oak adds subtle creaminess without overpowering the freshness, resulting in a wine of tension and precision.

Winemaking & Style
Produced in extremely small quantities, this cuvée reflects the château’s dedication to expressing the terroir of Margaux through a white wine that rivals the sophistication of the region’s reds. Aged for 9 months on lees in barrel, it showcases balance, aromatic depth, and aging potential.

Food Pairing
A versatile white that shines with lobster, scallops, creamy risotto, or roast chicken with herbs. Also excellent with aged goat cheese or truffle-accented dishes.

Verdict
A luxurious and limited-production Bordeaux Blanc, blending elegance, minerality, and aromatic finesse. Age-worthy for 5–10 years, but already delightful today. A true gem for white Bordeaux lovers.
— 2 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on October 3, 2025 at etc. in Nashville]

Black cherry, raspberry and blueberry fruit, with black tea, cola, rose petal and mandarin orange notes. — 5 months ago

Mary Ellen Bonisteel

9.5

Definitely will buy this again! — a month ago

Sam Friedland

9.1

Dark color, balanced, restrained fruit, low alcohol. — 2 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

This out of 3 Liter. Tasting great. Cranberry. — 5 months ago

Chris Albin

Winemaker, Azari Vineyards Winemaker, Corskcrew Wines

9.0

Classic Zin. Fruity and clean. — a month ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Deep purple color. Aromas of red and black fruit, floral notes, leather and dusty earth. Plum on the palate, blackberry and herbal notes. Ridiculously good for $65. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Light nose and medium in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and complex, with a very soft mouthfeel.

Showing currants, light wood, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, licorice, chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This delicious 13 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaux is starting to drink nicely now. Elegant and rich. Fruit forward and nicely balanced. Complex and interesting.

Showing more earth notes than the 2016 vintage, and a little reserved right now.

This 3rd Growth Cabernet is a good sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with BBQ Meats.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Aged in (60% new) French oak barrels for 14 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$100. — 4 months ago

Max Gottesfeld, FWS, CSW

9.0

777/115. Light with elegant fruit and nice earth tones. Good acidity and balance. — 6 months ago