Appellations

Cantenac Brown 2015

Margaux, Third Growth

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Tasting Notes

Readers who need more proof that Margaux was the place to be in 2015 just need to taste the 2015 Château Cantenac Brown. Based on roughly 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot it offers an extraordinary nose of crème de cassis, caramelized cherries, flowers, and spices. This medium to full-bodied effort has plenty of tannins, as well as toasty oak, yet is perfectly balanced and has a great mix of both freshness and richness. It’s a tour de force that will be drinkable in 4-5 years and last for 25-30 years!

Score: 94 Jeb Dunnuck, - Maturity: 2022-2052 Date: 30 November 2017

Bright crimson. Very competent representative of the vintage with marked ripeness on the nose but then rather chunky and bitter on the finish - like Oxford marmalade. Not much lift. A tad stodgy. (16.5- Points)

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2023-20358 Date: 01 April 2016

Very structured and muscular with black currant, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Full body. Yet polished and intriguing.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 01 April 2016

The 2015 Cantenac Brown follows their excellent 2014 with another great Margaux. Here, a nuanced nose that does not come racing from the blocks, but keep your nose in the glass and it reveals detailed blackberry, cranberry and strawberry aromas that are neatly embroidered with the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite tensile tannin. There is breeding interwoven into this Margaux, palpable sophistication, and it finishes with panache, fanning out with lightly spiced red and black fruit. It is not the most ostentatious Margaux in what is a fecund season for the appéllation, but I suspect it will surprise a few wine-lovers as its ages.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2045 Date: 01 April 2016

The 2015 Cantenac Brown is superb. Translucent, weightless and totally finessed, the 2015 offers outstanding purity and exceptional overall balance. Sweet plum, tobacco, cedar, licorice and new leather are some of the many nuances that take shape in the glass, but it is the wine's purity that is most impressive. Hints of lavender, iron and smoke add shades of nuance on the tightly wound finish. Over the two weeks I followed it, the Grand Vin put on considerable depth and power. It will be interesting to see where things end up here, but the 2015 was superb all three times I tasted it. Cantenac Brown is one of the great still affordable wines of the year. Don't miss it.

Score: 93 - 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2016

Very fresh, with well-defined red currant and raspberry coulis flavors that stream through, enhanced by a violet note on the mineral-edged finish.

Score: 91 - 94 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2016