Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Brane-Cantenac 2023 – Margaux, Grand Cru Classé, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A highly aromatic and deeply concentrated Margaux showing impressive layering, polished texture, and outstanding fruit density, with oak integration still prominent in its youth. Built for complexity and long-term evolution.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, wild blueberry, cassis, black cherry liqueur, violet petal, sweet cedar, cocoa powder, graphite, subtle vanilla and toasted spice from new oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with silky, refined tannins, dense mid-palate concentration, seamless flow across the palate, and a long, plush finish. Oak remains slightly forward at this stage but clearly destined to integrate.

Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, rosemary lamb, duck confit, porcini risotto, aged Gruyère or Comté.

Verdict
A seductive, high-concentration Margaux with real depth and aromatic brilliance. Oak currently rides slightly high, but the underlying fruit density and texture suggest excellent aging potential and future harmony.

🍷 Personal Pick
The perfume is intoxicating and the fruit core is massive, this just needs time for the oak to melt into the frame. Big upside once the pieces lock together. — 13 days ago

Isil Bayman

9.0

Uccle, Brussels, Belgiul — a month ago

with Hakan

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Brio de Cantenac Brown – 2020
Margaux, Bordeaux – France 🇫🇷

Overview
Brio is the second wine of Château Cantenac Brown, offering a more accessible take on Margaux. This 2020 vintage is composed of 62% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak (25% new) to balance fruit, structure, and approachability. 
Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red fruits—raspberry, red currant—merge with cedar, baking spice, and subtle floral lift. Earthy and graphite tones bring depth.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full body, with soft but persistent tannins. The wine opens smoothly and finishes long with fruit and spice echoing.

Food Pairings
Roast lamb, duck breast, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses. Also pairs beautifully with charcuterie.

Verdict
A concentrated, value-driven Margaux that shows the pedigree of Cantenac Brown. The 2020 Brio balances power and elegance — drink now or cellar for 8–12 years. 🍷 cheers!

Did You Know? 📌
Second wines (like Brio) are often sourced from younger vines or lots not selected for the Grand Vin, yet in 2020 Cantenac Brown treated it with care: the blend leans more Merlot than the Grand Vin to give earlier approachability. — 4 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2021 vintage. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Vinified in concrete and stainless steel tanks. Made from 35 years old vines of Brane Cantenac on the gravelly-sandy soils of Terrasse 5. A lighter, well-made Margaux that is ready to drink. — 13 days ago

John Berggren

9.5

Wonderful 2016 bottle. Soft tannins, plum and subtle berries. Delightful finish. — 15 days ago

Rufus King

9.4

Delightful Margaux with light cherry notes and and fine tannin, Bloom Brasserie, Dublin — 4 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2019 Le Hameau. 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. First vintage of this parcel selection in the commune of Cantenac, aged for 16 months in amphorae (2/3) and barriques. Le Hameau stands for finesse, whereas Le Plateau (in Soussans) delivers more power. — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Cantenac Brown 2023 – Margaux, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
Shockingly high-performing 2023 showing precision, finesse, and immediate pleasure well beyond expectation, an outstanding blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, delivering a dangerously complete Margaux that already behaves like a future benchmark while still promising upside with time.

Aromas & Flavors
Explosive aromatics of red cherry, raspberry coulis, wild strawberry, rose petal, subtle vanilla, light cocoa dust, fine cedar spice, and polished mineral tones.

Mouthfeel
Silky, flowing, and beautifully balanced with fine-grained tannins, graceful mid-palate lift, energetic drive, and a lingering yet perfectly measured finish that dances rather than weighs.

Food Pairings
Duck breast with cherry glaze, herb-crusted rack of lamb, filet mignon, mushroom risotto, aged Comté or Gruyère.

Verdict
A stunning overachiever that combines immediate drinkability with elite structure and elegance. Precision, aromatic intensity, and textural finesse place this firmly among the top Margaux performers of the vintage.

🍷 Personal Pick
This wine positively shocked me, had to enjoy few glasses just to believe it. Pure finesse, graceful flow, and championship-level balance already. Will get more bottles of this vintage with confidence. — 13 days ago

Dmitry Muzychak

9.5

Выпито 16.10.2025 у соседей Альпериных на балконе их квартиры. Достойнейшее Grand Cru 2000 года. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Alto de Cantenac Brown, 2022
Margaux (Left Bank) – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A rare white from the Left Bank, produced by Château Cantenac Brown, a 3rd Growth estate in Margaux. Crafted from 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon, sourced from a tiny 1.8-hectare parcel planted specifically for this cuvée. Fermented in oak barrels (90% one-year-old French oak), giving it elegance and complexity in limited quantities.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: perfumed, layered with white flowers, citrus zest, mandarin, and ripe stone fruits, accented by delicate oak spice and minerality.
Palate: vibrant and structured, unfolding flavors of lemon curd, peach skin, and hints of vanilla, with a chalky mineral lift and refined texture.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full-bodied, with zesty acidity, refined minerality, and a silky finish. The oak adds subtle creaminess without overpowering the freshness, resulting in a wine of tension and precision.

Winemaking & Style
Produced in extremely small quantities, this cuvée reflects the château’s dedication to expressing the terroir of Margaux through a white wine that rivals the sophistication of the region’s reds. Aged for 9 months on lees in barrel, it showcases balance, aromatic depth, and aging potential.

Food Pairing
A versatile white that shines with lobster, scallops, creamy risotto, or roast chicken with herbs. Also excellent with aged goat cheese or truffle-accented dishes.

Verdict
A luxurious and limited-production Bordeaux Blanc, blending elegance, minerality, and aromatic finesse. Age-worthy for 5–10 years, but already delightful today. A true gem for white Bordeaux lovers.
— 6 months ago