August fast coming to an end with 2014 Brane Cantenac.

[JimHow]

Other than some cabernet with Alaskan salmon in a wine bar in Fairbanks, the fast is coming to an end a day early with a beautiful 2014 Brane Cantenac as we begin Labor Day weekend. It turned out to be a beautiful summer here in Maine after a brutal winter/spring.

The first thing noticed about the 2014 Brane is that distinctive 2014 classic character.... Mmmm.

[stefan]

Note to self: Buy some 2014 Bordeaux.

[CJD]

.....but what to buy?

[JimHow]

Man what a vintage! And when you combine the quality of the vintage with the quality of the winemaking and terroir at Brane Cantenac, you’ve got something special. I think these 2014s are going to be wines to drink between the 10-20 year range. Right in the sweet spot for an old man like me!

A really nice deep purple, taking advantage of the best of both modern and traditional Bordeaux winemaking, restrained and classic but with a solid core of fruit and elegant “margauxberries” on the nose. A beauty. 95 points.

[Nicklasss]

I never understood why, but never had any much 2014 GCC Bordeaux in Québec. Looks like my type of vintage too. The few available are at a dissuasive price.

Nic

[Comte Flaneur]

Brane-Cantenac really is on a hot streak. I bought the 2015 and 2016, both of which are magnificent, of course one being the BWE woty.

[Blanquito]

Really thoroughly enjoyed a 2000 Brane Cantenac not all that long ago, as Arv and I discussed. It was around the 2000 vintage or maybe the 1998 that Brane began its renaissance. I bought some 05 and 09 too.

[CJD]

Struggled with Brane & it’s neighbor Catanac Brown in the 2000s. Found them ultra rustic. Must try 14 Brane & beyond.

[JimHow]

Interesting, I was debating whether to include the word “rustic” in my description.
But in a positive way. It is like a super Cantemerle.
The $35 I paid for it is silly.

[Blanquito]

Like virtually all things in wine (and life?), the right amount of a given characteristic — rusticity, fruit, brett, green, tannin, acid, alcohol, even new oak — is a good thing while too much (or too little) is bad. The rub is always that one man’s balance is another's affront.