Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Margaux, Bordeaux, 2009

Tasting: Medoc crus classes 2009

Reserved nose, black cherries and plums. Plump, rounded, and fleshy, with plenty of oak and a good tannic structure, but there’s a slight and disconcerting herbaceous tone too. There’s something gawky here, and it’s not clear that it will harmonise with more time. And the finish is a bit dry. Moderate length.

Tasting: Medoc crus classes 2009

Muted nose, quite closed, slightly lean red fruit aromas. Lacking weight and concentration on the palate, quite elegant but not really very profound.

Tasting: Medoc crus classes 2009

Very good natural concentration of fruit with lifted spice and elegance over the richness, perhaps a certain leanness on the finish, but this firmness and grip is refreshing and adds lift and length. Good future, but will always have more length than charm.