2016 Chateau Cantenac Brown, Brio

ABOUT THE WINE. Purchased by the Scottish painter, John Lewis Brown, at the beginning of the 19th Century, who added his name to the estate, and designed the Tudor-style mansion that graces the property today. A series of owners followed, and the estate suffered from a lack of investment, until 1989, when it was acquired by AXA Millésimes. Over the subsequent decade they worked tirelessly to improve the estate, and in 2006 the sold a greatly improved Cantenac-Brown to the Simon-Halabi family. Under this ownership the estate saw its three greatest vintages – 2009, 2010 and 2015 – before being sold once again in 2019.. TASTING NOTES. A blend of 49% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon & 11% Cabernet Franc, with a year in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new and 75% of them one-year-old barrels. The 2016 vintage captures the essence of a balanced vintage with enough flavour intensity while preserving the charming perfumed violet and rose notes. A full, velvety structure gives way to a long dark plum finish. A very precise and enjoyable Margaux that over-delivers for its value.. FOOD PAIRING. Roast quail with celeriac remoulade and pan-dried Jerusalem artichokes. FRIARWOOD SAYS. 51% of the harvest was declassified for the second wine in 2016, with grapes that would usually be reserved for the Grand Vin adding to the depth and complexity of the Brio; this will be drinking well from 2021, and will continue to develop for a further decade.