BORDEAUX 2025 EN PRIMEUR
Château Brane-Cantenac
Another feather in the cap for Lurton and, moreover, this is often one of the best values on release.
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2026
2025 Château Brane-Cantenac
£237 per 6 bottle case in bond
Well, I have pushed my calculator off the far side of my desk, and I am only focusing on quality here.
I thought that Brane-Cantenac 2025 was simply one of those magical wines... Such a classy, effortless Margaux with a glorious sense of symmetry. To my mind, something of a must have and possibly the most startling barrel sample I have ever tasted from Henri Lurton's superb estate.
I am not worried whether the price has gone up, or down, or round the corner for that matter - not that Brane-Cantenac has ever pushed its release price too far. This is an utterly brilliant wine in the making - it is as simple as that.
2025 Château Brane-Cantenac
£237 per 6 bottle case in bond
95-97 points, Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2026
The 2025 Brane-Cantenac was picked from September 2 to 29, finishing with that 1% of late-ripening Carménère, cropped at 32.2 hl/ha. It has impressive purity on the nose, an aspect of the Grand Vin that Henri Lurton and his team have improved immensely over the last decade. Black cherries, bilberry, violet and crushed stone unfold in the glass, classical in style, which is Brane-Cantenac's signature. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, finely sculpted tannins allied with disarming sapidity and brightness. Not powerful like the 2022, yet pixelated with a mineral, tensile, complex finish. Another feather in the cap for Lurton and, moreover, this is often one of the best values on release. Drink 2032-2060
97 points, Jane Anson, janeanson.com, April 2026
This is luscious and full of wonderfully bright fruits, great concentration, cushion of air underneath, high Cabernet and it comes through in the floral aromatics, clearly a plentiful tannic structure but luscious and layered damson and black cherry. Yes yes yes. Drink 2036-2055