By Chateau Cantenac Brown
2018 Margaux

Technical Details
Grape Varieties: 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Aging: 60% new French oak barrels, 40% one-year-old
Harvest Date: September 18th to 28th (Merlot), October 1st (Cabernet Franc), October 2nd to 11th (Cabernet Sauvignon)

The Vintage
Before 2018, 'oceanic climate' was a broad meteorological concept of different nuances. In 2018, from spring to the beginning of summer, this oceanic climate joined the vineyard to remind us of its main characteristic: high humidity spread over the entire season. After a complicated start of the season, nobody would have thought we would get such an amazing vintage. Once again, our work has been rewarded. For many years now, we have been very active in the vineyard, and we opt for preventative measures, de-budding, leaf removal, and removal of secondary shoots. Everything is set up to work in good conditions. In 2018, we had to work harder than usual and double our teams to keep it up. We had to de-bud and remove leaves from more than 500,000 vines in eight days. Mid-July, the grapes were perfect, only waiting for the sun to ripen. Given the water resources present, the heat from the end of July to the end of August allowed evolution without stress. The veraison was slowly homogenous, and the maturity smooth.

The Harvest
Before the harvest, the contrast between hot days and cold nights was wonderful, favoring aromatic and phenolic concentration. In a few words: a dream harvest! More than four weeks of idyllic conditions and plots with perfect maturity. Berries were small. Thick and matured skins released a deep color. The maturity of the pips, brown almost dark, round, long, and fresh tannins show how great this vintage is.

Tasting Notes
2018 is an unprecedented vintage of great quality, with all varietals showing perfect maturity, mixing concentration, roundness, and balance.
[Information provided by DHI Selections]

Chateau Cantenac Brown 2018 Margaux
From: Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Rating: 95 - Cellar Selection
Winery: Chateau Cantenac Brown
Variety: Bordeaux-style Red Blend
Region: Bordeaux
Alcohol: 13.50%
Wine Type: Red
Bottle Size: 750.00 ml
Issue Date: 5/1/2021
Ripe black fruits shine through this balanced wine, showing strongly against a backdrop of rich, generous tannins. This estate is one to watch as it achieves the form the vineyard deserves. Expect this wine to be ready to drink from 2026.
Reviewed By: Roger Voss

2018 Chateau Cantenac Brown (Margaux)
Points: 95
Concentrated, lush, voluptuously-textured, perfectly ripe, deep, dark opulent fruits are all over the place in the nose and on the palate. Full-bodied, velvet textured with intensity, length and richness, give this at least 7 or more years of aging and this will be a gorgeous wine for the following 2 decades. [...]
Tasted Mar 9, 2021

2018 Cantenac Brown
Producer: Cantenac Brown
Place of Origin: France, Margaux Grand Cru Classe, Bordeaux
Color: Red
Rating: 94
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2050
From: Dive In: Cantenac Brown 1978-2018 (Oct 2022)
The 2018 Cantenac Brown, which I had recently tasted as part of my horizontal, here replicates that performance. Very pure on the nose, perhaps a little more opulence than the previous bottle, this is beautifully defined with subtle tobacco scents percolating through the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, harmonious and extra supple with great tension towards the finish. This is quintessential Margaux and a superb wine from winemaker Jose Sanfins. Tasted at the Cantenac Brown vertical at the chateau.
By: Neal Martin on June 2021

Chateau Cantenac-Brown Margaux 2018
Score: 94
Wine Type and Color: Red Still
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Drinkability: Drink now through 20236
Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Other Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Issue: Mar 31, 2021
Region: France / Bordeaux / Margaux
Shows a touch of dark earth out front, with a mix of smoldering tobacco, espresso crema and singed alder notes before the core of warmed plum and blackberry reduction flavors finally starts to unwind. Just a touch burly for a Margaux, but certainly lots to like here and ample range and length. Time will likely add that last bit of refinement. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2036.

CHATEAU CANTENAC BROWN MARGAUX 2018
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Vintage: 2018
Score: 94
Rich and polished aromas of blueberry, lavender, dark chocolate, hazelnut and sweet tobacco. It's full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins. Creamy layers of ripe fruit and wood. Long and caressing. Lovely ripe fruit in the center palate. Try from 2024.

By Decanter
Chateau Cantenac Brown, Margaux, 3eme Cru Classe 2018
Tasted By: Jane Anson (at Bordeaux, 09 Nov 2020)
Part of Top Margaux 2018 wines: Re-tasted in the bottle
Points: 94
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2042
Producer: Chateau Cantenac Brown
Vintage: 2018
Wine Type: Still
Colour: Red 
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: Margaux
Sweetness: Dry
Closure: Cork
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 3% Cabernet Franc, 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot
This has a lot of elegance even though it is a powerful wine; there is a lovely lifting freshness through the palate along with ripples of blackberry and damson fruit. Just a touch of heat on the finish that dampens things down.

2018 Cantenac Brown
Rating: 92+
Producer: Cantenac Brown
Wine Region: France, Bordeaux, Margaux
Variety: Proprietary Blend 
Color / Type / Sweetness: Red / Table / Dry
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Drink Date: 2024 - 2044
The 2018 Cantenac Brown has a medium to deep garnet-purple color, wafting gently out of the glass with fragrant scents of redcurrant jelly, Morello cherries, plum preserves and fresh blackcurrants, plus suggestions of red roses, cedar chest and pencil lead. The medium-bodied palate (13.5% declared alcohol) has a sturdy frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the delicately styled red and black fruit flavors, finishing savory.
Published: Mar 31, 2021

2018 Chateau Cantenac Brown
Producer: Chateau Cantenac Brown
Location: France, Bordeaux, Margaux
Color: Red
Rating: 92
Tasting Date: 3/11/2021
Maturity: 2021 - 2046
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Source: 2018 Bordeaux From The Bottle
A classic, elegant Margaux [...], the 2018 Chateau Cantenac Brown offers up a pretty perfume of red and black currants, sandalwood, dried flowers, and cedar pencil. It's not the most powerful or concentrated wine in the vintage, yet it has fine tannins as well as a wonderfully balanced, classical style. I suspect it will benefit from just short-term cellaring and keep for 20-25 years.

Ch Cantenac Brown 2018 Margaux
Producer: Ch Cantenac Brown
Appellation: Margaux
Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Colour: Red
Alcohol: 13.50%
Score: 17/20
When to Drink: 2026 - 2046
Published On: 10 Feb 2022
Date Tasted: 19 Jan 2022
Reviewer: Jancis Robinson
Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Rich and quite complete nose. Then smooth fruit with polished tannins. Glossy and very different from some of the lesser Margaux. Composed and fun.