Château Cantenac Brown 2024 en Primeur

A velvety, densely fruited red with a delicate texture. Cherries and some pine needles on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Silky and delicious with some more berry and chocolate character on the finish.

The 2024 Cantenac Brown was cropped at a very low 16 hectoliters per hectare and represents 52% of the estate's production. The new winery's battery of smaller tanks made it possible to isolate sub-parcels to attain more homogenous maturity. Offering up aromas of cassis, violets and pencil shavings, it's medium-bodied, with good density and concentration, built around sweet tannins and integrated acids. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27.5% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Some notes of peat and sweet herbs here with a hoisin plum fruit quality. Bold fruit extract with plum and cassis. Quite rich fleshy palate, especially for the vintage and with very fine tannins indeed. Fresh acidity and great elegance and poise on the finish. Really very good.