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Brane-Cantenac is located in one of the best terroirs in the world, Margaux. This appellation is known for producing extremely elegant wines with a finesse that’s out of this world. Brane is located in some of Margaux’s very finest plots. The Chateau is positioned on an illustrious plateau, with stony soils forcing the roots of the vines to delve deep into the earth for sustenance.

This estate got its start as Guilhem-Hosten; it wasn’t until the Baron of Brane purchased the estate that it took on its current moniker. For the Baron to make this purchase, he had to raise funds; he achieved this by selling another property that he owned, which just happened to be Mouton Rothschild. 

The 2022 Brane-Cantenac earned its place at #39 in James Suckling’s Top 100 French Wines of 2025, confirming Margaux’s timeless elegance and the estate’s rise as one of Bordeaux’s most refined benchmarks.

Since its early years, owners and wine enthusiasts saw the potential this estate had. But it was until the beginning of this century that it started living up to that potential. That being said, Brane-Cantenac is producing wines better than ever before and improving quality every year.  

Today, this 2nd growth estate is owned by the Lurton family. The Lurton family is Bordeaux royalty; this family owns over 20 estates, including 6 classified growths like Chateau Desmirail and Haut-Bages Libéral.

74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% each Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Petit Verdot.

~ #39 Top 100 French Wines of 2025 by James Suckling

An undeniable star in Margaux, the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% each Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Petit Verdot. This deep purple-hued beauty offers up a sensational perfume of darker currants and cassis that gives way to more floral, spicy oak and graphite nuances with air. With flawless overall balance, ripe, velvety tannins, terrific purity, and a great finish, this riveting Brane-Cantenac already offers pleasure, yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up with 4-5 years of bottle age, only to reemerge later and drink beautifully for 30+ years. It's one of the truly greats in the appellation, and readers will love to have this beauty in the cellar. ~99 Jeb Dunnuck, #10 Top 100 Wines of 2025

A perfume-like bouquet evoking violets, an ultra-sensual texture that evolves slowly on the palate—both creamy and freshly tangy—with great depth and an endless finish carried by high-quality tannins. Everything is already in place, including the remarkably integrated oak… A true 2022, irresistibly seductive in its youth but built for posterity. ~99 La Toulipe Rouge

Deep plum colour, touch of grilled campfire smoke on the aromatics, good lift through the finish, this is so enjoyable, clearly skilled and full of joy. One of the wines of the vintage totally delivers on En Primeur beauty. Technical director Christophe Capdeville, owner Henri Lurton, 100% new oak for ageing. ~98 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Crushed velvet smoothness and almost weightless purity. Gorgeous aromatics – wild flowers, bramble fruit, and soft cinnamon. Bright berry fruit, salty mineral touches and a hint of liquorice create charm and depth. This exudes Margaux elegance with bounce, finesse, and fleshiness. Already so enjoyable but built to develop further. An utterly delicious wine that captures the essence of the vintage.  ~98 Decanter

Deeply colored, the wine opens with violets, lilacs, roses, cigar wrappers, creme de cassis, spice, and lavender aromatics in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is pure silk and velvet. There is a beautiful elegance, symmetry, and balance you notice as soon as the wine graces your palate. There is length, purity, and refinement making this effortless to taste. The finish has no edges, leaving you with a wealth of sensuous fruits. Fans of Brane Cantenac should run, not walk, and buy this gem as prices continue to remain reasonable for a wine of this character, and quality. The wine blends 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 1% of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. The wine is 14.3% ABV, 3.61 pH. The harvest took place September 7 - October 4, with the Carmenere being picked October 10. This is the earliest start to a harvest in the history of the estate. Yields were 31.5% hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced from only 42% of the harvest. Drink from 2027-2055. ~98 The Wine Cellar Insider

So aromatic with blackcurrant, blueberry and violet aromas that follow through to a medium body with ultrafine tannins that are extremely integrated and refined and go on for minutes. Some lead pencil and stone at the end. Very complex and subtle for the vintage. ~97 James Suckling

The 2022 Brane-Cantenac is every bit as impressive as it was en primeur. What a wine. Fresh, brisk and wonderfully vibrant in the glass, the 2022 soars with striking Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics. Graphite, menthol, sage, mint, licorice, dried flowers and a kiss of well-judged oak all meld together in the glass. Great wine is the result of many small decisions taken together, some of which may seem inconsequential on their own. The team led by Technical Director Christophe Capdeville nailed it in 2022. This is a magnificent Margaux that overachieves big time. The 2022 is one of the most finessed wines of the vintage.  ~97 Vinous Media, #3 Top 100 Wines of 2025s

Bright ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fine toasty aromas, a touch of liquorice, black wild berries, floral touch, very attractive. Substantial palate, elegant and silky, good fruit expression, a touch of cloves, finessed acidity, chocolatey and mineral in the finish. Fine tannins, unusually long and harmonious. A delicious wine; Margaux par excellence. ~97 Falstaff

Powerful and decidedly radiant in the sensory profile, it shows notes of black plums, blackberries, dark chocolate and mandarin juice. Lots of toasted hazelnuts and vanilla describe the secondary scene. Medium-full body, perfectly extracted tannins and a regal finish, decidedly balanced and tasty. Better from 2027. ~95 WinesCritic.com

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