Château Brane-Cantenac 2024

Expressive, aromatic, wild berries, dried herbs, sour cherries, almost Pinot-like in expression; silky on the palate, velvety tannins, lively acidity, crisp fruit, light-footed, balanced, long finish, citrusy aftertones. A delicate Brane, clearly less concentrated than in the great vintages; here, the focus was entirely on elegance.

Ripe and concentrated aromas, you can feel the blackcurrant and cherry fruit, dark and full of aromatic intensity. Really welcoming. Bright and lively in the mouth, an instant hit of sweet juiciness with high acidity giving immediate lift. It’s not plush, more sleek and svelte. More linear than recent vintages of course but lifted with careful extraction and lovely definition. A happy wine. Really makes you smile and one you want to finish. More overt acidity than some — racy — but I love the intense freshness and precision on offer, and this grows in stature with time in the glass. 40% grand vin production. Ageing 80% new oak instead of 100%, probably 18 months in barrel. Tasted twice. 11.3% press wine. 3.53 pH.

77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Deep crimson hue. Refined nose with a spicy top note. Lovely fragrance on the palate, the tannins ripe and refined. Freshness and persistence on the finish. Lots of charm. (JL)