1970 Brane-Cantenac stolen from the old fella & used to surprise him on Sunday.
This is what wine is about! Purchased on release & stored for 40 years in an underground cellar.
The stories this wine told weren’t just of grapes in a bottle they were about sharing a glass, plate & table with family
The stories can be that little thing that makes the difference between good wine & great wine!
Sometimes it’s the memories!
Aged wine is a legacy, a gift without the expectation of something in return, something to pay forward to the next generation!
DECODE THIS WINE
Brane-Cantenac is from Bordeaux on the left bank of the Gironde River, near the West Coast of France. Specifically it’s from an Appellation called Margaux.
It’s classified as a 2nd growth. The left bank of Bordeaux being classified into 5 growths and a number of Cru Bourgeois classifications. 1st Growth being the best and 5th being the “least” best.
The big challenge being that the classification system was compiled in 1855 and hasn’t changed since, with one exception, Château Mouton-Rothschild, which was upgraded from 2nd Growth to 1st.
Meanwhile, the quality of wines from the Châteaus of Bordeaux has changed some getting worse, others, better.
There are a group of Châteaus that have consistently outperformed and these are known, colloquially, as the Super 2nds. Many suggesting that they should be reclassified as 1st Growths.
Château Brane-Cantenac is considered by many to be one of these, a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend 70%, 15% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
In general the wines from Margaux tend to be comparatively round, rich, generous and elegant, compared to the structured wines of neighbouring Paulliac, and the some times austere wines of St Estephe.
Good Bordeaux, like this wine, tend to age for an incredibly long time. They reach a peak over 15-20 years and often only decline very slowly in the decades following.
This bottle was just fading a little, had incredible perfume, earthy complexity and a supple texture.
It’s a rare experience and real treat to devour wines of this age!
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