Château Brane Cantenac 2004

The 2004 vintage in Margaux

Vintage benchmark: 88/100 (appellation benchmark, not a score for this wine)

Vintage character: High yields and a dry September gave a classic, unexaggerated vintage, straightforward, now at its peak.

Overall reading of the year’s season across Margaux. An estate can depart from it sharply, in frost or hail years, where two neighbours did not make the same vintage. What this particular wine actually gave is on its technical sheet and in the scores above.

Tasting

A beautiful intense purple color. A clean nose with fruity (blackberry, blackcurrant), woody, roasted, floral (violet) and spicy notes. An ample attack, a tight and velvety structure in the mid-palate, also offering great flexibility. A finish combining toasted and fruity retro olfaction with a lasting physical imprint.

Blend of the 2004 vintage

Figures from the 2004 sheet

• 13 % vol.Alcohol
• 59 hl/haYield
• 25 yrsVine age
• 150,000 bottlesProduction

Ageing

18 months in oak, including 60 to 70% new barrels

Terroir

Historically recognised as one of the greatest in the Médoc, the terroir of Brane long earned the property the description of first of the seconds. The heart of the property is a 45-hectare block, unchanged for three centuries. The very deep gravel (12 m) has a high clay content. It ensures a sufficient water reserve throughout the year while its compactness limits the amount of water the plant takes up. The water table is very deep here (5 to 6 m), allowing the roots to develop deep down. The upper layers of the soil, sandier, tend to saturate quickly during heavy rain. Much of the water then runs off, thanks to the topography.