Le Baron de Brane 2014

Brane Cantenac is itself a superb, second growth Margaux estate, just west of Cantenac village. It's been in the hands of the great Lurton family for many years, passing to Henri Lurton most recently. With his arrival has come many improvements in the vineyard and investment in the cellar and chai and steep rise in quality. Their superb 75 hectares of vineyard are planted on fine gravelly soils – just over half Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Merlot, Franc and Carmenère. The Grand Vin hived off a large portion of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2014, which accounts for the Baron's high proportion of Merlot. No bad thing, according to Vinous and Decanter who awarded it 89 points. Only in the last 18 months has the wine begun to show its panoply of flavours.