Château Brane-Cantenac 2005

Shows mineral and blackberry aromas, with hints of licorice. Full-bodied, with soft, silky tannins and a long, smoky, earthy, meaty and fruity aftertaste. Long and stylish. Very refined and beautiful. Best after 2012. 15,000 cases made.

With its classic Left Bank profile, this blend of 51% Cabernet and 43% Merlot along with 8% Cabernet Franc, aged in 70% new casks, opened with a hint of tomato and slightly herbal notes at first, but gradually developed aromas of redcurrant, bright cherries, and spice. The palate texture was dense and tannic, pointing to promising future development—surprisingly good value.

51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. 38.5 hl/ha.Deep garnet hue. Greater depth on the nose than the 2004, the ripeness there. Dark fruit and graphite notes. Layered fruit on the palate. Tannins firm but integrated. Holding up well. (JL)

The 2005 Brane-Cantenac is fabulous. Effusive and explosive to the core, the 2005 possesses tremendous energy and pedigree. Crushed flowers, mint, gravel, red/purplish fruit, sage and mocha abound. In 2005 Brane-Cantenac is remarkably deep and vivid. It also comes across as needing a bit more time to soften. Readers will find one of the most distinguished wines of the Left Bank. I especially admire its drive and mid-weight classicism. Hints of cedar and sweet pipe tobacco linger.

There is a slight bricking to the color as the wine matures. Tobacco leaf, currants, cedar, and garrigue shape the nose. Silky, supple, and seductive on the medium-bodied palate, the fruit is soft, ripe, and fresh, with dusty tannins on the finish. Drink from 2022–2045.

Medium-dark garnet, ruby rim. Comfortingly fragrant, blackberry-scented bouquet, underpinned by dark fine woods, elegant and noble. Juicy palate, already surprisingly well-structured, again with blueberry notes, licorice on the long finish. Not a fleshy or even rich wine, but an elegant yet ageworthy classic that, however, lacks a bit of drive.

Medium-dark garnet, ruby rim. Comfortingly fragrant, bramble-scented bouquet, underpinned by dark noble woods, elegant and refined. Juicy palate, already surprisingly fine in structure, again blueberry notes, with licorice on the long finish. Not a fleshy or even rich wine, but an elegant and yet long-lived classic that lacks a bit of drive. 07: Delicate, fresh, lovely spice. Feels slender on the palate but as elegant as a Chambertin (17/20). 19: At a dinner at the château. It’s not about power, but finesse. For the first time it truly gave me joy. My favorite was the fifth glass. I would decant it for two hours.

Balanced, elegant, understated, old school but resolutely full of grace. I wonder how many people today get excited by the quiet charm of this wine, but it certainly works for me. Will hang in there, and keep impressing over the years, like a 1970s Napa. Roses and raspberries, touch of campfire, broth, crushed mint, crayon, blackberry, understated and charming, with Margaux floral aromatics on the finish. It's not a bodybuilder, and yet there is a wiry frame and a mouthwatering finish. Harvest September 17 to October 10, 38.5 hl/ha yield, 3.64 pH, 70% new French oak for ageing. Jacques Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner and estate director, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

Made from 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, the 2005 Brane-Cantenac is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick. It bursts from the glass with maturing notes of plum pudding, raisin cake, and redcurrant jelly, plus hints of tree bark, unsmoked cigars, truffles, and tapenade with a waft of spice box. Medium-bodied, firm, and grainy with amazing tension, it coats the mouth with evolved black and red berry flavors, finishing long and mineral-laced.

Open nose, lovely fruit maturity, a complex aromatic profile of spices and exotic woods, cigar box. Full-bodied, dense palate with richness, fleshy spicy tannins perfectly integrated, and a complex, showy finish. In great form.

Logo on the cork: AL Deep, intense colour, slightly evolved. Wonderful nose—highly aromatic, refined, subtle, deep and complex. Quite dense from the attack yet still perfumed, the wine unfolds with noble poise into a long, finely structured finish, still aromatic and, above all, impossible to spit. That evening, it was remarkable. Best to wait longer still.

The fruit has become the main attraction here—layers of ripeness, tempered with an elegant smoothness. The tannins are certainly present in this powerful wine, but they are here to lend support, not dominate. With herbs and very clean black fruits, this is a wine to follow.

A sexy, style of wine from the Lurtons at Brane-Cantenac, this wine (a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc) has a stunning nose of forest floor, licorice, blackcurrants, plums and spring flowers. Soft tannin, full-bodied opulence and beautifully textured, lush richness, make for a brilliant wine from this large, 180-acre vineyard. In spite of the wine’s stunning forward fragrance and lushness, the color still looks as if it is 3-4 years old, rather than a decade. This is a big-time winner in 2005 and should drink well for at least another 25+ years.