Les Licornes De Cantenac Brown Margaux 2016 (Second Label of Château Cantenac Brown)

Château Cantenac Brown, a Third Grand Cru Classé estate on the plateau of Cantenac, launched Les Licornes as its second label to channel the character of younger vines and declassified parcels while preserving the estate's unmistakable Margaux identity. The vineyards sit on deep Günzian gravel over clay subsoils, a combination that drains freely to stress the vine roots downward while retaining just enough moisture to sustain ripening through Margaux's warm, maritime-moderated summers — the result is concentration without heaviness. The blend, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot in support, follows the grand vin's approach of aging in French oak barriques, imparting structure and spice integration without overwhelming the appellation's characteristic aromatic lift. What sets Les Licornes apart within the second-label tier is its direct lineage to a classified estate whose grand vin routinely commands multiples of this price, offering genuine Margaux terroir expression at an accessible entry point. The 2016 vintage — widely regarded as one of Bordeaux's finest of the decade for its even growing season and phenolic precision — gives this cuvée a tannin architecture that has softened considerably since release, with a drinking window extending comfortably through the late 2020s.