1990 Cantenac Brown
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Tasting notes
The 1990 Cantenac Brown, which was José Sanfins' first proper vintage (he was a trainee in 1989), has a pleasant, mature bouquet with summer fruit, sage, mushroom, leather and wild mint; it's a little feral but it gets an applause from me. The palate is well balanced, old school with melted tannins, quite spicy towards the rustic finish. It lacks refinement and precision, but with decanting, I can imagine this giving a modest amount of pleasure. Tasted at the Cantenac Brown vertical at the château.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Slightly more structured and richer than the 1989, the opulent 1990 may lack some complexity, but it offers gobs of rich, expansive, concentrated fruit in a full-bodied format. I especially admire the big, dramatic bouquet of smoke and cassis. Anticipated maturity: Now-2003.
Blockbuster. Very dark ruby color. Wonderful ripe berry, currant and floral aromas. Full-bodied, with a dense fruit structure and loads of tannins. This is very young.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2006. 15,000 cases made. – James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2000
Slightly more structured and richer than the 1989, the opulent 1990 may lack some complexity, but it offers gobs of rich, expansive, concentrated fruit in a full-bodied format. I especially admire the big, dramatic bouquet of smoke and cassis. Anticipated maturity: Now-2003. Feb 1993, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
Tristan le Lous purchased this Third Growth in 2019, keeping on José Sanfins on as director. There has been significant work in the vineyards here, with a sustainable, organic approach across the 48 hectares.