Kurt Schuster

9.4

Silky tanins, elegant understated expression. Warm nose of dried flowers, lavender, dusty hot day. Bright taste, tannins are silky and coat the tongue but also disappear so you can enjoy your food. Sharp rose, pomegranate, dry and bold. Baked mixed fruits. Cuts through lamb chops and short rib heavy flavors and holds it own.  — 4 days ago

with Denise

Brennan Roy

9.0

Dark berry fruit forward, baking spices, luscious mouth feel, balanced tannins with cherry pie finish. Delightful. — 5 months ago

Some Dude

9.0

Wonderful lush blue fruit. Moderate tannin and moderate acidity. We had a spicy zaalouk and it was a magnificent pairing. Great winemaking by a historic winemaker. — 7 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

11/2025. A solid can. Good fruit and boldness. — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Brio de Cantenac Brown – 2020
Margaux, Bordeaux – France 🇫🇷

Overview
Brio is the second wine of Château Cantenac Brown, offering a more accessible take on Margaux. This 2020 vintage is composed of 62% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak (25% new) to balance fruit, structure, and approachability. 
Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red fruits—raspberry, red currant—merge with cedar, baking spice, and subtle floral lift. Earthy and graphite tones bring depth.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full body, with soft but persistent tannins. The wine opens smoothly and finishes long with fruit and spice echoing.

Food Pairings
Roast lamb, duck breast, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses. Also pairs beautifully with charcuterie.

Verdict
A concentrated, value-driven Margaux that shows the pedigree of Cantenac Brown. The 2020 Brio balances power and elegance — drink now or cellar for 8–12 years. 🍷 cheers!

Did You Know? 📌
Second wines (like Brio) are often sourced from younger vines or lots not selected for the Grand Vin, yet in 2020 Cantenac Brown treated it with care: the blend leans more Merlot than the Grand Vin to give earlier approachability. — 9 months ago

Shengli Hu

9.0

2018 much more minerality on the nose! Not what Zin reminds you of. Red cherries blackberry black pepper spices licorice medium acidity long spicy finish moderate body dark. notes from visit to the winery.

Alexander Valley. Bright red volcanic soils, steep rocky slopes and western exposure. — 4 years ago

Jose Castaneda

9.6

When you first open the bottle, you get a rush of flowers run through your nose. And that at the begin sets a tone for a light wine that is full of flavor. — 6 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2021 vintage. Medium-heavy body. Plenty of fruit and oak. Needs a longer visit from the rock shop. 5.6.26. — 2 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Deep ruby color with a brick rim. Blueberry, lavender and rose petals aromas. Flavors of blackberry jam, baking spices and vanilla. — 4 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Pop n pour. Given that it’s 70% Mourvèdre, the color is surprisingly light. (There’s 25% Grenache and 5% Syrah too.) Medium color saturation. Inviting nose of a melange of ripe berries and a smoky embers note. Crushed rock behind that. Soft and intensely flavored in the mouth, with the berries less prominent, jousting with dark earthy and pleasantly vegetal notes. Soft but balanced acids and tannins almost silky. Really nice. Terrific value at $25 from WTSO. — 7 months ago

Richard Portes

9.1

Still looks young, high acidity keeps it fresh. So different from an Hermitage! — 8 months ago

Adrienne Rapacki

9.1

Rating for the rest at Linebaugh’s — 10 months ago

with Kim, Phil and 1 other

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruits, cigar box and cedar scents. On the palate flavors of black cherry, plum and currants with cacao, floral and oaky notes. Fine dusty tannins, long finish ending with fruit, floral, oak and earthy mineral character. Very Nice! Good now. — a year ago

DAL 9000

9.3

Big bold dark fruits plums and blackberries up front. Bold but creamy. Undertones of chocolate and tannins. Long and lush. Layers and complex. — 4 years ago

Vicki Ausloos

9.7

Absolutely delish! Fruity with an oaky finish. — 3 months ago

Jim O’Gorman

8.9

Great value for the money. Enjoyed a late night dinner with a grilled rib eye. Deliciously nice. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Cantenac Brown 2023 – Margaux, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
Shockingly high-performing 2023 showing precision, finesse, and immediate pleasure well beyond expectation, an outstanding blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, delivering a dangerously complete Margaux that already behaves like a future benchmark while still promising upside with time.

Aromas & Flavors
Explosive aromatics of red cherry, raspberry coulis, wild strawberry, rose petal, subtle vanilla, light cocoa dust, fine cedar spice, and polished mineral tones.

Mouthfeel
Silky, flowing, and beautifully balanced with fine-grained tannins, graceful mid-palate lift, energetic drive, and a lingering yet perfectly measured finish that dances rather than weighs.

Food Pairings
Duck breast with cherry glaze, herb-crusted rack of lamb, filet mignon, mushroom risotto, aged Comté or Gruyère.

Verdict
A stunning overachiever that combines immediate drinkability with elite structure and elegance. Precision, aromatic intensity, and textural finesse place this firmly among the top Margaux performers of the vintage.

🍷 Personal Pick
This wine positively shocked me, had to enjoy few glasses just to believe it. Pure finesse, graceful flow, and championship-level balance already. Will get more bottles of this vintage with confidence. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Krupp Brothers – Cabernet Sauvignon “Veraison” 2009
Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley – USA 🇺🇸

Overview:
From the famed Stagecoach Vineyard, this 2009 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon shows why Krupp Brothers has earned a reputation for power and finesse. At nearly 15 years, it’s still on the ascent, with structure and depth that promise more evolution ahead.

Aromas & Flavors:
Layers of dark cassis, blackberry compote, and black cherry mingle with graphite, cedar, and espresso. Hints of dried violets and cocoa powder emerge with air, weaving a bouquet that is both bold and nuanced.

Mouthfeel:
Full-bodied and dense, yet polished. Firm tannins and vibrant acidity still hold the core tightly, making it feel youthful despite its age. The finish is long, savory, and mineral-driven, echoing dark fruit and spice.

Food Pairings:
A classic match for dry-aged ribeye, braised short ribs, or wild mushroom risotto.

Verdict:
An outstanding wine, multi-layered, complex, and still climbing toward its peak. A bottle to savor now with decanting, but also a treasure for collectors willing to wait.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight:
This vintage remains one of the standout expressions of Stagecoach Vineyard fruit, alongside 2010, it is a benchmark release. Collectors take note: the 2009 is still gaining complexity and shows remarkable staying power. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Bright lemon color with aromas of citrus, stone fruits and flinty floral notes. On the palate flavors of apple, pear and lemon citrus with notes of vanilla, white flowers and garden spice. Medium+ finish, vivid acidity ending with vanilla and flinty mineral spice. Nice! — 3 years ago

Sara Gravesen

10

Nice balance of wines, smooth and delicious. Recommended at Del friscos double eagle to go with our tomahawk steak and scallops. Amazing! Will be purchasing again! — 5 years ago