2018 Château Cantenac Brown Grand Cru Classe

Deep garnet with a velvet sheen, this 2018 Château Cantenac Brown is Margaux at its most magnetic, powerful, aromatic, and effortlessly composed. The nose opens in waves of cassis, black plum, and violet, followed by darker layers of cigar box, cedar, and graphite. On the palate, it’s concentrated and supple, the ripe black fruit framed by fine, chalk-dusted tannins and a graceful thread of freshness. There’s volume without weight, power without excess and a finish that hums with spice, mineral depth, and quiet confidence. This is modern Margaux: bold, perfumed, and impeccably tailored.

For when: the decanter’s polished, the steaks are resting, and the evening feels important.
Pairs with: côte de boeuf, wild mushroom risotto, or roast venison.
If this wine were a person, it’d be the kind who wears tweed and drives fast, refined, but with a streak of wild charm.

Château Cantenac Brown stands proudly among the Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus Classés) of the 1855 Classification, its Tudor-style manor house a rare architectural gem in the heart of Margaux. Founded in the early 19th century by Scottish painter and wine merchant John Lewis Brown, the estate today spans 48 hectares of gravelly, well-drained soils, the cornerstone of Margaux’s signature elegance and perfume.

The vineyards are planted mainly to Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), with Merlot (30%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (5%), farmed organically with a deep respect for biodiversity. Since 2019, the château has been under the stewardship of Tristan Le Lous, who continues to elevate its precision and purity under winemaker José Sanfins. The 2018 vintage, one of Bordeaux’s modern greats, captures everything this estate stands for richness, refinement, and that unmistakable Margaux allure that lingers long after the last sip.