The Wine Advocate | RP 90
Published: Dec 31, 2016

Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the Chateau, the 2012 Brane-Cantenac, now in bottle, has developed a satisfying bouquet of blackberry, tar and tobacco, keeping within the Brane-Cantenac style, but perhaps delivering a little more fruit intensity than it showed out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and well-judged acidity. There is a pleasant fleshiness here with a salinity on the finish that urges another sip. This is commendable for the vintage, although I would suggest it will offer more pleasure in its youth, rather than something that I would insist upon cellaring. Tasted January 2016. 
Drink Date: 2017 - 2029

Jamessuckling.com | JS 92
Published: Feb 8, 2015

A red with mineral, oyster-shell and currant character. Full body, chewy tannins and a long and muscular finish. Needs two or three years to soften. A racy 2012. 

Winemaker

TASTING NOTES
November 2014: An attractive purple hue, good concentration and intensity, with a restrained and refined nose of red fruit aromas. After a velvety attack, the wine develops in the mouth to reveal pleasant ripe fruit flavours, floral notes, spices and a light smokiness. Tannins are soft and tight. There is great elegance, a silky texture and a very fine aromatic palette. Perfect balance, superb length. A sumptuous and highly refined Margaux wine.

FACTS
Harvest dates: 27th September - 16th October
Yield: 45.5 hl/ha
% First Wine produced: 32
Barrel ageing: 18 months in 60% new French oak
Ageing potential: 15-20 years and beyond. At its best from 2020 onwards.

VINTAGE SUMMARY
Spring was challenging, with very rainy weather in April as vines began shooting, but excellent summer weather made up for it, with the hottest August since 2003. Getting the harvesting date right was crucial in order to obtain fully ripe grapes, without endangering their health by allowing the rain at the end of September and in October to take its toll.
Brane?s great success in this vintage is down to the terroir, which leads grapes to ripen early. The fact that we included 68% of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend of Brane-Cantenac bears witness to its beautiful maturity, and to the excellent work that was done in the vineyard.