Cantenac Brown

5/1/2019 Vinous VINOUS (ANTONIO GALLONI) : 93-96 / 100 The 2018 Cantenac Brown is powerful, deep and super expressive, with striking persistence and terrific overall balance. The interplay of fruit intensity, aromatic depth and structure is compelling. In the 2018, the Grand Vin has a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon than in the past, plus drops of Franc, that give an added touch of energy. There is plenty of density and richness, but my impression is that the wine is also a bit less extracted than it has been in the recent past. The blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Tasted three times. 5/1/2019 Decanter.com DECANTER.COM (JANE ANSON) : 94 / 20 This is delicious, silky in texture and filled with luscious black fruits, exotic spiced liquorice and sweet blackberry. Touches of grilled cedar and just a trace of heat appear at the final furlong, along with a hint of menthol. The tannins close their fist around the fruit, reflecting the small berry size in the Cabernets, the percentage of which is slightly up this year as new plantings have come on line. It's an impressive construction, a little less elegant than the 2016 but with a ton of personality and a sense of bursting out of its borders, not yet fully tamed - and hugely appealing as a result. 60% new oak barrels. Harvested 18 September to 11 October. Drinking Window 2027 - 2042 4/24/2019 La Revue du Vin de France LA REVUE DU VIN DE FRANCE : 17,5-18,5 / 20 4/23/2019 The Wine Cellar Insider THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER (JEFF LEVE) : 94-96 / 100 Flowers, Maraschino cherries, smoke, espresso and thyme on the nose piques your interest. On the palate, however, it is the silky, polished, vital, spicy red fruits that hit the spot. Part of this allure comes from the higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in this year's blend. This wine is going to need at least 6-8 years of aging before it even begins to ready itself for drinking. Produced from blending 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the wine reached 13.6% alcohol and the harvest took place September 18 to October 2. 4/23/2019 Wine Advocate WINE ADVOCATE (LISA PERROTTI-BROWN) : 91-93 / 100 The 2018 Cantenac Brown is deep garnet-purple in color and a little coy to begin and then, with coaxing, opens out to lovely red roses, black tea, violets and underbrush scents with a core of warm red and black currants and chocolate-covered cherries. Full-bodied and laden with perfumed red and black fruit layers, it has a firm frame of fine-grained tannins and a long, fragrant finish. 4/17/2019 Wine Enthusiast WINE ENTHUSIAST (ROGER VOSS) : 95-97 / 100 This is a rich wine, full of generous black fruits and ripe tannins that give it both a powerful yet stylish nature. Its weight comes from the fine black fruit flavor, with fine acidity to the cut fruitiness. 4/12/2019 Jamessuckling.com JAMESSUCKLING.COM (JAMES SUCKLING) : 93-94 / 100 This CB has an extremely energetic palate with beautiful elegance and power. Pure and bright. Really lively. Firm and chewy tannins. 4/8/2019 Quarin JEAN-MARC QUARIN (JEAN-MARC QUARIN) : 94 / 100 4/3/2019 Wine Spectator WINE SPECTATOR (JAMES MOLESWORTH) : 94-97 / 100 Winey and dark in profile, with steeped currant, plum and blackberry fruit, buttressed by ganache, smoldering tobacco and warm earth notes. Accents of bay leaf, alder and mineral are in reserve. Delivers a beguiling feel despite the concentration. A very strong showing 4/1/2019 Beck YVESBECK.WINE (YVES BECK) : 95-96 / 100 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc Pourpre violacé. Que de finesse et de complexité ! Cantenac-Brown affiche tout de suite qu’il est content d’être là ! Bouquet aux multiples facettes avec des notes de baies noires, de la fraîcheur et une bien belle aptitude à refléter son terroir. Mise en bouche fruitée et crémeuse. Au palais le vin a de l’ampleur, de la douceur et du caractère. Les tannins sont puissants et se révèlent en fin de bouche afin d’accentuer l’assise du vin. La structure assure l’expression aromatique et confère de la fraîcheur jusqu’en finale. A nouveau une très belle réussite ! 2024-2043