Margaux De Brane 2019

Margaux De Brane 2019 is a 750ml, 14.5% ABV Bordeaux red from the Margaux appellation, produced as the third wine of Château Brane-Cantenac. Scored 92 points by Wine Enthusiast and 90 points by Wine Spectator, the 2019 vintage delivers a remarkably approachable entry point into a Second Growth Margaux estate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Margaux, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 2019  |  Producer: Château Brane-Cantenac (Henri Lurton)

Production & Heritage

Château Brane-Cantenac holds the prestigious rank of Deuxième Grand Cru Classé (Second Growth) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, and proprietor Henri Lurton oversees all three tiers of the estate's production. For Margaux de Brane, Lurton specifically selects fruit from the estate's youngest vineyard plots, yielding a wine designed for earlier drinking while still reflecting the terroir of Margaux. The blend is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39.5% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, and the relatively rare 5% Carmenère — a grape seldom found in modern Bordeaux. The wine undergoes oak maturation, contributing structure and subtle spice without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with expressive red fruits layered over a floral backdrop, then evolves with airing to reveal spicy, slightly smoky notes alongside tobacco and vanilla. Blackcurrant and blueberry join hints of graphite and lead pencil as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is silky and remarkably round, giving way to a fleshy mid-palate dense with dark fruit — blackcurrant, plums, and blueberries. Medium to full in body, the wine carries considerable tension and focus, with wet earth, black truffle, and black walnut adding savory depth. A salty undertone and touches of licorice keep the palate engaged through the mid-palate peak.

Finish: The finish is tasty and aromatic, running long with lingering dark fruit, a hint of bitter burnt lemon, and fine-grained tannins. Good balance sustains the wine's finesse well after the last sip.

How to Drink Margaux De Brane

Serve at 16–18°C (61–64°F) and consider decanting for 30–45 minutes to allow the smoky, spicy aromatics to fully open. This is a wine built for the table, ideally alongside food, though it rewards focused attention on its own. A classic Bordeaux-style pairing with roast lamb lets the wine's structure shine. Try it alongside duck confit, where the wine's dark fruit and earthy undertones mirror the richness of the dish. It also works beautifully with aged hard cheeses such as Comté, where the salty finish of the wine meets the nuttiness of the cheese.

Best For

• Introducing a Bordeaux enthusiast to the Brane-Cantenac estate without the grand vin price
• Pairing with a Saturday evening roast or dinner party main course
• Cellaring short-term (3–7 years) for those building a Bordeaux collection
• Gifting to a wine lover interested in classified-growth Margaux

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Margaux De Brane 2019 taste like? It delivers a silky, medium-to-full-bodied palate dominated by blackcurrant, plum, and blueberry, layered with earthy notes of wet earth, black truffle, and graphite. The finish is long and aromatic with well-integrated tannins and a distinctive salty undertone.

How does Margaux De Brane compare to Le Baron de Brane? Le Baron de Brane is the estate's second wine, sourced from more mature vines and typically showing greater depth and aging potential than Margaux de Brane. Margaux de Brane, as the third wine made from the youngest plots, is designed for earlier accessibility while still reflecting the Brane-Cantenac house style.

Is Margaux De Brane 2019 good for sipping on its own? Yes — its round entry, generous fruit, and balanced tannins make it enjoyable without food, especially after brief decanting. That said, it truly excels at the dinner table alongside red meat or rich dishes.

Where is Margaux De Brane made? It is produced at Château Brane-Cantenac, located in the commune of Cantenac within the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux's Left Bank, France. The estate is a classified Second Growth under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

What foods pair well with Margaux De Brane 2019? Roast leg of lamb complements the wine's structure and dark fruit; duck confit matches its earthy richness; aged Comté or Gruyère echo its savory, salty finish; grilled beef tenderloin highlights the silky tannins; and mushroom risotto bridges the wine's truffle and wet earth notes.

What sizes does Margaux De Brane come in? The standard bottling is 750ml, which is the most widely available format for this wine.

Is Margaux De Brane 2019 worth the price? It positions as an accessible entry into classified-growth Margaux, offering genuine appellation character and Second Growth estate pedigree at a fraction of the grand vin's cost. With a 92-point score from Wine Enthusiast, it delivers strong value within its tier.

Why Margaux De Brane 2019?

What distinguishes this wine is its direct lineage to one of Bordeaux's most respected classified estates — drinking Margaux de Brane is drinking fruit from Brane-Cantenac's own Margaux vineyards, selected by Henri Lurton himself. The inclusion of 5% Carmenère in the blend is a genuine rarity in modern Bordeaux, adding a layer of individuality to the cuvée. The 2019 Bordeaux vintage was widely regarded as excellent on the Left Bank, with warm conditions producing ripe, concentrated fruit — and this wine captures that generosity without sacrificing the elegance expected from Margaux. At 92 points from Wine Enthusiast, the 2019 Margaux de Brane stands as a serious overperformer among third wines of classified estates.