Chateau Cantenac Brown 2020

Château Cantenac Brown sits on the gravelly plateau of Margaux's left bank, where Günz-era pebbles and clay subsoil define the terroir. The 2020 vintage—a structured Cabernet-led blend—underwent 18 months in French oak (35% new), building the medium-full tannin profile characteristic of the appellation's best third growths.

The wine's backbone comes from Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), with Merlot (25%) and Petit Verdot (5%) softening the edges. Fermentation in temperature-controlled vats and extended élevage in Allier and Tronçais cooperage allow the wine's mineral core—driven by the estate's limestone-rich subsoil—to emerge without overextraction. The 2020 vintage benefits from a warm, dry growing season that ripened the Cabernet fully while preserving acidity.

Drinking window: 2024–2040. The wine shows classical Margaux restraint: black currant and graphite dominate the mid-palate, with secondary notes of dried herb and cedar emerging as it opens.