With Hart, Tiara, Jess, Bradian and Eric at Hart’s birthday dinner.

I try to stockpile Hart’s birth year wine whenever I can find smth reasonable. But it’s really damn hard to top the 95 Cos d’Estournel. Sigh.

Fill level was very healthy. Cork looked to be in good condition but somehow broke abruptly. Thankfully, the Durand to the rescue.

In the glass: well aged, garnet. Mid body.

On the nose: oh man, this was so nice. Rich dense tertiary funk, but yet still retaining so much red currant. Brane Cantenac’s always been this odd ball Margaux – it’s way more red fruit and cherry dominant. Light and elegant. Took a while for the dense funk to dissipate, but when it did it was just this beautiful mix of rich red cherries, leather, cedar, touch mushroom, earth.

On the palate: fully resolved tannins. This isn’t exactly the densest or most concentrated wine – I don’t think Brane Cantenac was in the best place before the 2000s. But nonetheless this was surprisingly fresh, good acidity, and good concentration of fruit. More importantly, this bottle had such GOOD longevity in the glass! Never quite fell flat or dead even with vigorous swirling and plenty of time in the glass.

Had it with Piedmont cheese which were damn delicious.

wine4.ever 👏👏