A wine of delicate elegance, having opened up a bit since last experienced in April 2022. Impressive fruit palate persistence, more red than black, again with somewhat high toned acidity. While it lacks the breadth of vintages like 2018 and 2020, it makes up for that with beguiling wet stone 'minimalism' and tannic finesse that beckons further drinking, marked by floral notes on the long finish.

This has a very delicious and attractive nose offering ample dark berries and plums with cocoa and freshly cut bracken. The palate has a smooth, fan-like array of fine but sturdy tannins that carry very fresh and upbeat into the finish. Try from 2023.

The 2016 Cantenac Brown comes from a Margaux estate that has upped its game in recent years. It has an intense bouquet with floral aromas filtering through the black cherries, cassis and boysenberry notes, in an odd way almost Saint-Emilion in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. Silky smooth with very well-judged acidity, there is a sorbet-like freshness imbued into this Margaux and it just glides across the palate towards the quite sensual finish. This is certainly equal to the impressive 2015 Cantenac Brown.