Chateau Brane-Cantenac
2010
Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Appellation
Margaux
UPC
0 15643 42481 6
Vineyard
A somewhat late bud break (very first days of April).
Start of flowering on May 25th.
Early plots of Merlot that suffered from cool weather during blossoming and significant millerandage on a limited number of stocks.
Rapid and even veraison.
Green harvest, considerably limiting the yield of Cabernet Sauvignon.
10 hectares of vineyards farmed organically, i.e. 15% of the surface (20% in 2011).
Start of flowering on May 25th.
Early plots of Merlot that suffered from cool weather during blossoming and significant millerandage on a limited number of stocks.
Rapid and even veraison.
Green harvest, considerably limiting the yield of Cabernet Sauvignon.
10 hectares of vineyards farmed organically, i.e. 15% of the surface (20% in 2011).
Harvest
Excellent weather conditions during harvesting.
The Merlots were harvested between September 27th (5 days later than in 2009) and October 5th. The berries had very high sugar levels. Optical sorting performed miracles, removing shot and dried berries.
Harvesting of Cabernet Sauvignons started on October 6th and ended on October 14th. The level of phenolic compounds in the grapes was greater than in 2009. It is undoubtedly the prized grape in 2010.
Exceptionally, the Cabernet Francs had to wait until the end of harvest. They produced wines that were surprisingly rich in aromas.
The health status was just as exceptional as in 2009.
In spite of a high alcohol level, the wines' acidity made them well-balanced and fresh.
The Merlots were harvested between September 27th (5 days later than in 2009) and October 5th. The berries had very high sugar levels. Optical sorting performed miracles, removing shot and dried berries.
Harvesting of Cabernet Sauvignons started on October 6th and ended on October 14th. The level of phenolic compounds in the grapes was greater than in 2009. It is undoubtedly the prized grape in 2010.
Exceptionally, the Cabernet Francs had to wait until the end of harvest. They produced wines that were surprisingly rich in aromas.
The health status was just as exceptional as in 2009.
In spite of a high alcohol level, the wines' acidity made them well-balanced and fresh.
Vintage
The 2010 vintage is uncannily similar to the previous vintage: a dry year but with water
reserves that had been replenished the previous fall. The cool nights of a pleasant summer
imparted full aromatic expression and unusually high levels of phenolic compounds. The climate in 2010 corresponded marvellously to Brane's terroir. The plateau's clay-like gravel
subsoil can give the vines the humidity the grapes need to mature in conditions of extreme
dryness. Aromatic expression also being a major quality of this terroir, it was particularly rich at Brane this year. The severity of the blend may seem surprising but it was the key to a perfect balance...