Château Cantenac Brown Margaux 2019 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé

This estate was acquired by Simon Halabi, a lover of fine Médoc wines, who has provided a motivated team—led by the very friendly and talented José Sanfins—with the resources to improve quality. The most recent vintages have all been successful: wines that are rather full-bodied for Margaux but harmonious in their power. The second wine, Brio, lacks a bit of panache, despite its name, but the estate produces a lovely dry white wine under the Bordeaux appellation, called Alto.

The latest vintage to come out of the current cellar, as a new building made of raw earth is planned for 2023. In the glass, this wine is distinctly Margaux in character due to its elegance—both in its aromatic development, with lovely red fruit aromas intertwined with delicate spicy and smoky notes, and in its presence on the palate. The very fine, well-integrated tannins maintain the balance while offering promising aging potential. 2026–2035

Dominated by an imposing Neo-Tudor-style castle built in the 19th century by the Scottish wildlife painter John Lewis Brown, this 48-hectare estate, planted on beautiful gravel soils in the heart of the appellation, has enjoyed a renaissance—first thanks to the Axa Group and, since 2006, under the leadership of the Halabi family, who entrusted its management to José Sanfins.

This beautiful and imposing Margaux estate consistently produces high-quality wines worthy of its classification. Its dynamic director, José Sanfins—who trained at the Cazes and Axa Millésime schools—knows how to craft wines that are charming, yet also deep and rich (as exemplified by the white Alto, produced in small quantities). A new owner, the Le Lous family, has even higher ambitions. An additional 10 hectares were acquired in 2020, and major modernization work on the production facilities is planned. This estate is not resting on its laurels!

Now under new ownership but with the same winemaking team, this estate has produced a wine of great concentration. The tannins are generous and have a dense, dry core that pairs well with the powerful aromas of blackcurrant. This wine has great long-term potential.

It offers subtle aromas of blackcurrant and blueberry with notes of fresh violet, light vanilla, licorice, and crushed stone. There are also hints of forest floor. A medium-bodied wine with firm tannins and a velvety mouthfeel. On the palate, delicious crushed berries. Compact with a firm finish. Best enjoyed starting in 2026.

What intensity in the bouquet of Cantenac Brown! It displays exceptional precision and great complexity. It reveals a multitude of fruity nuances reminiscent of blueberries, blackberries, peppermint, and licorice, culminating in refreshing hints of eucalyptus. On the palate, the wine stands out for its density and freshness. The tannins lend it body, while the acidity ensures a lively, refined, and precise character. What harmony, vigor, and aging potential this wine possesses! It is exceptional and is certainly one of the greatest Cantenac Browns ever produced… and one of the greatest I have ever tasted! 2026–2049

The nose is fresh, refined, elegant, and subtly restrained, offering lovely finesse and powerful structure. It features notes of plump, fresh Boysenberry, fresh, vibrant raspberry, and, more subtly, fresh violet, combined with hints of bright red berries, small fruits, hints of fresh blueberry, and a delicate hint of lily, cocoa, andtonka bean, subtle hints of bergamot and star anise, discreet toasty notes, and a subtle hint of Bourbon vanilla. On the palate, it is fresh, mineral, and fruity, offering lovely definition, a nice body and roundness, delicacy, a slightly airy quality, a refined structure, fullness, freshness, and a fresh, tangy framework. It is full of finesse and elegance. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy, juicy raspberry, blueberry, and, more subtly, fleshy blackcurrant, combined with hints of small, fleshy red berries, fresh, crisp blue berries, hints of violet, lily and cornflower, as well as subtle hints of cocoa, refined minerality, a sense of terroir, and a subtle hint of cocoa. A subtle chewiness on the finish. The tannins are elegant and well-integrated. Good length. Lovely savory depth on the finish.

Cantenac Brown’s best vintage in quite some time opens with a display of flowers, espresso, thyme, black cherries, plums, tobacco, and earthy aromas. Rich in texture, with soft, polished tannins and an abundance of deep, ripe, sweet, fresh, and dark red fruits, the wine is as delicious as it is enjoyable to drink. The round, supple finish offers a multitude of fruit flavors and a hint of chocolate on the aftertaste. 2027–2055