2017 Ch Cantenac Brown, Margaux, 3ème Cru

The 2017 Cantenac Brown is dark, plush, and powerful. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice notes infuse this plush, voluptuous Margaux. There is no shortage of depth or intensity, that much is clear. This is an especially potent style. Technical Director José Sanfins lowered temperatures in fermentation and chose to handle the wines minimally with the goal of avoiding the extraction of hard tannins. Tasted three times.

The 2017 Cantenac Brown feels a little disjointed on the nose, not quite as ripe as its peers with moderate fruit intensity. There is just a little greenness that nags away in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, quite grippy tannins. This is a structured and more masculine style of Cantenac Brown, although it manages to deliver plenty of finesse towards the finish and there is commendable length. I would just like a little more charm by the time of bottling. Tasted on three occasions.