Château Brane-Cantenac 2010

This is dark and grippy, with charcoal, roasted bay and chestnut leaf notes fronting a muscular core of steeped black currant, loganberry and black cherry flavors. Taut plum pit and iron hints thread the finish, revealing a lingering charcoal note. Very solid and suited for aging. Best from 2015 through 2028. 10,000 cases made.

Smoky nose of tobacco, ash and wood. High energy and lovely juicy fruit on the palate. Clean and straight, tannins beautifully textured. Cool raspberries and blueberries, cola and freshness throughout. Refined and elegant, shiny yet structured. Polished, with plenty of acidity and fun. Very drinkable. Not as plush as some, but has classicism and flavour.

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.

The 2010 Brane-Cantenac marked the first year that optical sorting was used and the replanting of a parcel of Petit Verdot. This has long been a favourite vintage, the nose in a class of its own with mineral-driven black fruit, graphite and just a touch of Earl Grey. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Beautifully balanced with just a slight savoury element beginning to emerge towards the finish, this blossoms in the glass and ultimately has a little more panache and grandeur than the impressive 2009. Outstanding. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025.

Deep ruby in color, the wine remains youthful. Now, it is easy to see its qualities, the richness, concentration, and layers of ripe, sweet fruits along with soft, polished tannins and vibrant acidities. But the wine is clearly reticent and holding back much of what it will deliver with a bit more aging. So, if you have a bottle or two, or a case, let it rest for a bit. Drink from 2028-2050.

The 2010 Château Brane-Cantenac appears to have shut down, yet it still shows incredible potential. Revealing a deep plum hue as well as terrific darker currant, smoked tobacco, licorice, graphite, and subtle floral notes, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, rich, concentrated mouthfeel, beautifully sweet tannins, and a great finish. It has an incredible amount of sweet fruit, plenty of structure, and a great mid-palate; however, it needs another 4-5 years of bottle age to hit prime time. I followed this bottle for multiple days, and it was just about impervious to air and should have another 2+ decades of overall longevity.

Dark garnet. Discreetly full, very fine bouquet, a hint of cedar, black tea and red plum. On the palate, a Burgundian, silky flow, elegant, perhaps a bit too light for the vintage. But better this than over-extracted.

Dark garnet, fairly full in the middle, ruby rim. Subtly ample, very fine bouquet with a hint of cedar, black tea and red plums. On the palate, a Burgundian, velvety flow, elegant, perhaps a touch too light for the vintage’s potential, but better this way than over-extracted, which never happens at Brane-Cantenac anyway.

Fruity, peppery, medium-bodied bouquet, red and blue berries, mocha, vanilla. A firm, classic palate with light fruit, good tannins, sweet, fresh aromatics, long, refined finish. Still has room to improve. 17/20 2018 - 2035

Delicious, although the 2009 is definitely the one to go for at any time over the next decade. In contrast, the 2010 still feels pretty closed, not yet fully expanding through the mid palate. Graphite, pencil lead, crayon, cassis, brambled hedgerow fruit, very Left Bank. 70% new oak. Harvest 27 September to 14 October.

Distinctly Cabernet on the nose, intense, tight, full, with perfectly integrated tannins, great scope for the cru and clearly still far from its peak.

Superb nose, with notes of faded rose and roasted raspberry; full-bodied and very deep on the palate, with a luscious texture and a rich yet elegant substance. The tannins are a model of ripeness and extraction. Long, complex finish.

Dense attack, dense mid-palate, freshness, beautiful spicy finish.

The bouquet of this 2010 unfolds with elegance and precision. Marked by blackcurrant notes, it also displays spicy nuances and eucalyptus aromas. The creamy attack introduces an inviting wine, both gourmand and fresh. Its tannins are defined by fine grain and an ability to provide solid support. An approachable, delicious wine to enjoy now or cellar. As you wish. The potential is there.

Logo on the cork: AL Faulty bottle Tasted blind, not decanted. Dark color, medium intensity and slightly evolved. Discreet, very reduced nose. Soft, fruity, pleasant palate with medium body and length. It’s good, but without the characteristics usually described for this wine in this cru. Same lack of expression as at Haut Bailly and La Mission Haut Brion.

One of the Lurton properties in Margaux, Brane Cantenac is showing the richness of its finely placed vineyard in this 2010. Smoky wood and ripe blackberry are among the flavors of a wine that is complex, complete and concentrated. It will certainly age well.