Château BRANE-CANTENAC - White 2022
In Cantenac, in the heart of Margaux, Château Brane-Cantenac continues its story with its white wine, mainly built around the great Médoc cabernets. Under the direction of Henri Lurton, the estate has developed a specific parcel work for its white grape varieties, planted in areas where cooler soils help preserve tension and aromatic brightness. This confidential cuvée is based on the combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, two complementary varieties that give the wine a personality distinct from the estate's reds. Sauvignon brings energy, citrus, and a precise floral expression, while Sémillon adds more volume and depth on the palate. The 2022 vintage was marked by a particularly hot and dry season in Bordeaux, but terroirs suited to whites allowed maintaining sufficient acidity to balance the ripeness of the grapes. The precise work carried out in the vineyard and during pressing aims above all to preserve the purity of the juices. Brane-Cantenac White 2022 thus offers a rare and gastronomic interpretation of the estate, based on freshness, texture, and persistence.
Brane-Cantenac White 2022 blends 62% Sauvignon Blanc and 38% Sémillon. The grapes are vinified in 225 and 500-liter barrels, with about 50% new oak, a choice that allows working simultaneously on aromatic precision and texture. The aging continues for eight months in barrels on fine lees, bringing volume and a more enveloping sensation without erasing varietal freshness. Sauvignon Blanc thus retains a lively expression around citrus and white-fleshed fruits, while Sémillon enriches the mid-palate and adds more depth. The work on lees contributes to giving a creamy texture and gradually integrating the aging. Despite the sunny character of 2022, the palate remains supported by a clear acidity and a savory finish. This structure gives a white wine accessible in its youth but sufficiently structured to evolve harmoniously over several years.
The color shows a bright pale yellow with slightly golden reflections. The nose opens on white flowers, lemon, and white-fleshed fruits, before developing nuances of peach, pear, and exotic fruits. On aeration, fine touches of almond, sweet spices, and wood delicately melted into the fruit appear. The palate combines a round attack with fresh tension that gradually stretches the material. Sauvignon gives brightness and precision, while Sémillon brings a fuller texture and a slightly creamy relief. The finish is persistent and savory, with fine citrus bitters that enhance its gastronomic character. Brane-Cantenac White 2022 will accompany scallop carpaccio, langoustines, roasted turbot, poultry with cream, crustacean risotto, or aged goat cheese.
Grape varieties: 62% Sauvignon Blanc, 38% Sémillon
