1982 Château Brane-Cantenac
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Tasting notes
The 1982 Brane-Cantenac is a wine that I have tasted a few times now. Quite dense on the nose, this offers black fruit, fresh tobacco and cedar, a faint polished boot leather scent emerging with time. Maybe it does not offer the best delineation? The palate is finely balanced with filigree tannins, poised with sour cherry and raspberry commingling with cedar and dark chocolate. Whilst not a stupendous Margaux, this constitutes the best example that I have tasted. Tasted at the 1982 Dinner at Hatched.
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 1982 Brane-Cantenac was picked September 15 to October 1. It has a more conservative bouquet compared to the superior 1983, featuring black and red fruit, tobacco, mint and pressed flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition, just a touch of dark chocolate infiltrating the black fruit on the entry. There is a dab of spice and white pepper toward the tertiary finish, which persists as you would expect in a great vintage. This is very fine, even if the 1983 Brane-Cantenac is better. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château .
Brickish rim and orange tinted red core. Initial impression is strongly sweet red fruit but also a minty freshness. Distinctive perfume. Fine density on the palate, wth lively fruit and great energy. Fully resolved though there’s still an attractive dry grip on the finish. Long and fresh on the finsh, maybe just starting to dry a little. (JH)
Quite pale. Very light with extremely marked acidity. Bit lean and hollow – in fact almost feral by this stage with a finish that is drying out. (JR)
About the producer
Château Brane-Cantenac has been a consistent performer in the Margaux wine appellation since Henri Lurton took over the property, but thanks to replanting and investment in the last decade, quality has seen another sharp upswing.