The Wine Advocate | RP 91
Published: Dec 30, 2016

Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château, the 2011 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 37% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 56.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and a pinch of Carmenère. It has a more attractive bouquet than the 2012, demonstrating more complexity and fruit intensity: blackberry and raspberry, a touch of cedar and tobacco thrown into the mix. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, the oak beautifully interwoven into the brambly red berry fruit, gently building with a hint of spice and dry tobacco on the finish. There is just a tad more substance than the 2012, yet it remains elegant, and given the vintage it is sophisticated compared to others this vintage. Tasted April 2015.
Drink Date: 2019 - 2032

Jamessuckling.com | JS 92
Published: Feb 18, 2014

There is a beautiful clarity of fruit to this wine, with cherries, raspberries and flowers on the nose and palate. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Crisp and delicious. Extremely well done for the vintage. Try in 2018.

Brane-cantenac.com

Wine style
Intense, vivid colour. Very delicate, subtle fruit-driven nose with attractive floral notes, and hint of tobacco. The palate is promising, offering fine tannin, palpable energy and sorbet-fresh red berry fruit laced with cedar and pencil lead. Great balance. This wine is pure and elegant, delivering precision and typicity.

Serving conditions
Decant 1h30 to 2h before - Serve at 18°C

Ageing potential
25 to 30 years

Wine pairing
Pork fillet mignon with papaya, pan-fried oyster mushrooms and seasonal vegetables

Weather conditions
The 2011 vintage was complicated throughout the growing cycle. In addition to all our efforts, there were two key factors in obtaining high-quality wines. The first was the plateau of Brane’s soil water reserves, thanks to which the vines did not suffer from the spring drought. The second was the use of optical sorting. Sun scald, uneven ripening within bunches and between the stocks and the poor health status of certain grapes made careful grape selection especially important. It is clear that without this tool, the wines produced would not have achieved the same quality level.

Harvest dates
9/09 to 10/10/2011

Blend
56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère

VINIFICATION
In oak casks

Ageing
18 months in French oak barrels, with 70% new