2005 Château Brane-Cantenac, 12-bottle Lot

Château Brane-Cantenac is a 185-acre estate in Margaux, in France’s Bordeaux region. It is a Second Growth estate according to the 1855 classification. It has been owned since the early 20th century by the Lurton family. The estate was in the 19th century considered one of the best in the region, then in the mid-20th century many wine writers noted a decline in quality. But Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that since the late 1990s, “this once perennial underperformer is enjoying a renaissance…” In 2003, Parker wrote that “Brane-Cantenac is one of the rising stars of Margaux.” Vineyards are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Some 140,000 bottles are produced annually. The second wine is Le Baron de Brane.

Margaux is one of Bordeaux’s most famous appellations and also one of its largest, with about 3,400 acres of vineyards. Located on the Left Bank of the Gironde River, Margaux has the greatest number of classified-growth châteaux (or crus classé) according to the 1855 classification. There are twenty-one crus classé, including the most famous estate, the first growth Château Margaux. The Margaux appellation includes vineyards around the village of Margaux and the villages of Arsac, Cantenac, d’Issan, Labarde and Soussans. Wines from the best Margaux châteaux and vintages are prized for their perfumey fragrance and elegant, silky mouthfeel. Margaux wines are predominately Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.