The 2025 Cantenac Brown has a lovely lift on the nose, with brambly black fruit, crushed stone and a light iris flower scent, not as intense as the Brane-Cantenac but cut from a similar cloth. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine, lace-like tannins. This Margaux is all about purity, lightly spiced, with a gentle grip on the finish. This is a classy, sophisticated Cantenac Brown.

93-95 points, www.vinous.com

The 2025 Cantenac Brown is quite the powerhouse. Dark and ample in feel, the 2025 offers gorgeous presence and class to burn. Crème de cassis, new leather, lavender, menthol, licorice and mocha are some of the many notes that open with a bit of coaxing. There's tremendous substance and stuffing here. The tannins are quite fine, which is especially remarkable considering the wine's intense fruit.

94-96 points, www.vinous.com

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2025 Cantenac Brown unwinds in the glass with notes of crème de criss, pencil shavings and a deft touch of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, supple and suave, with sweet, powdery tannins and a fleshy, enveloping profile, it's broad-shouldered but judiciously extracted.

93-95 points, www.robertparker.com

Extremely well made, with a solid core of fruit, fine tannins, precision and tension. The new winery is really showing its substance now. Long and persistent. One of the best wines I have had from here.

96-97 points.

Lovely fragranced perfume aromatics with such purity and focus, elements of sticky liquorice and graphite. Smooth and so well balanced, velvety and soft tannins with a touch of cool blueberry and wet stones that linger on the mouth. Ends really cool, stony and fresh. I love the construction and the overall texture. Everything in balance. I love the intensity here, you get layers and texture and fruit with such delicacy and detail. Really a great wine in the making and I love the slightly darker edge to the fruit with some herbal, minty and liquorice spice. It’s got a really long finish too, the flavours last and last. 65% grand vin, no malolactic in barrel, no vinification intégrale. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. A yield of 28hl/ha.

Georgina Hindle

Cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and tobacco all define the 2025 Château Brane-Cantenac, a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 1% each Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Petit Verdot that's being raised in 100% new French oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a focused, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful concentration and depth, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Hitting 13.5% alcohol, it's a brilliant success in the vintage and should be snatched up by readers.

96-98 points.