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Chateau Branon Pessac Leognan Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Branon Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux producer with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn about the best vintages and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Branon History, Overview

While the concept of making a special Cuvee is fairly recent, especially in Pessac Leognan, Chateau Branon has a long history in the Graves appellation of Bordeaux. In fact, Chateau Branon dates all the way back to the 18th century.

Chateau Branon was in a dilapidated state of affairs when it was purchased by Sylvaine Garcin-Cathiard in 1996. The estate is managed by Helene Garcin. Since the Cathiard family purchased Branon, the vineyards and wine-making facilities have all been renovated and brought up to date.

Helene Garcin is also in charge of several estates in the Right Bank, Chateau Barde Haut and Chateau Poesia in St. Emilion and Clos LEglise in Pomerol, as well as Chateau Haut Bergey in Pessac Leognan. The family also produces wine in the Mendoza appellation of Argentina with Bodega Poesia.

Chateau Branon Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 6.5-hectare vineyard of Branon is planted to 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Although, a small amount of Petit Verdot has also been recently planted in the vineyard. Chateau Branon has a terroir of clay and gravel soil on a gentle, sloping hillside. The vines receive south by southwest exposure, allowing for ample sun, which explains its naturally, ripe style.

On average, the vines of Branon are close to 40 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 7,150 vines per hectare. The vineyard has good neighbors, as it is well placed in the middle of Chateau Haut Bailly and Chateau Malartic Lagraviere.

To produce the wine of Branon, vinification takes place in small, 79 hectoliter, stainless steel vats. The old, 50 hectoliter vats were replaced in 2009. Malolactic fermentation is performed in the barrel. The wines are aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for an average of 18 months. Production is tiny. Only 500 cases per vintage are produced of Chateau Branon each year.

The best vintages of Chateau Branon are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005 and 2000.

When to Drink Chateau Branon, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Branon can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. But the wine can be oaky, so decanting is needed. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1-3 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Branon is usually better with at least 10 years of bottle age before pulling a cork. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Branon offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 10-25 years of age after the vintage.

Chateau Branon Character and Style

The style of Chateau Branon is lush, sexy, and rich. The wine is concentrated and fleshy. There is a great purity of fruit and ample complexity in the flavors in this modern-styled Bordeaux wine. With bottle age, the wines of Branon take on more softness and complexity.

But the wine has an oaky component that is not going to please all tasters. For quality at this level, coupled with a very small production, Branon remains fairly priced.

Serving Chateau Branon with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Branon is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Branon is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Branon is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

www.vignoblesgarcin.com

Château Branon Wine Tasting Notes

12 Vintages 91,829 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2014
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
91
A new, fresh style of wine for Branon, now produced by the brother of owner Helene Garcin. Truffle, tobacco and blackberry notes lead to a more finesse driven approach with a tangy, dark chocolate and blackberry finish. Gone is the opulent style to which we have become accustomed, at least in this vintage. This will undoubtedly please some people but it may alienate fans of the estate’s older, more lavish vintages. 90-92 Pts

A new, fresh style of wine for Branon, now produced by the brother of owner Helene Garcin. Truffle, tobacco and blackberry notes lead to a more finesse driven approach with a tangy, dark chocolate and blackberry finish. Gone is the opulent style to which we have become accustomed, at least in this vintage. This will undoubtedly please some people but it may alienate fans of the estate’s older, more lavish vintages. 90-92 Pts

2,294 Views   Tasted
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2013
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
90
Coconut, espresso bean, smoke, boysenberry and jam are coupled with flashy, fleshy textures and an open, plush personality. From a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% ABV with a pH of 3.7. 89-91 Pts

Coconut, espresso bean, smoke, boysenberry and jam are coupled with flashy, fleshy textures and an open, plush personality. From a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% ABV with a pH of 3.7. 89-91 Pts

1,671 Views   Tasted
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2012
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
92
Silky, lush and polished, this soft, round, forward wine finishes with sweet, ripe plums and silky tannins.

Silky, lush and polished, this soft, round, forward wine finishes with sweet, ripe plums and silky tannins.

3,042 Views   Tasted
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With smoke, spice, incense, earth and ripe dark berries, the wine is soft, polished, oaky and silky. Filled with dark chocolate-covered berries, it ends in an oak-filled, spicy finish. 90-92 Pts

With smoke, spice, incense, earth and ripe dark berries, the wine is soft, polished, oaky and silky. Filled with dark chocolate-covered berries, it ends in an oak-filled, spicy finish. 90-92 Pts

2,997 Views   Tasted
2011
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
92
Lush, dense, ripe fruits, espresso bean, smoke and black cherry jam aromas lead to a smooth, soft, plush, early drinking wine of pleasure.

Lush, dense, ripe fruits, espresso bean, smoke and black cherry jam aromas lead to a smooth, soft, plush, early drinking wine of pleasure.

2,525 Views   Tasted
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2010
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
95
Silky, soft, sexy and packed with vanilla, oak, smoke, blackberries, licorice and chocolate, the wine is lush, sweet and complex. If the wine integrates into the wine, and I think it will, this will become a more compelling wine than it already is. Clearly, this is a modern Pessac Leognan, but I love it!

Silky, soft, sexy and packed with vanilla, oak, smoke, blackberries, licorice and chocolate, the wine is lush, sweet and complex. If the wine integrates into the wine, and I think it will, this will become a more compelling wine than it already is. Clearly, this is a modern Pessac Leognan, but I love it!

9,133 Views   Tasted
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Branon Using a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, this 500 case wine reached 14% ABV. Scents of coffee bean, truffle, tobacco and jammy blackberry meld with a big, sweet, ripe, long, smoky, jammy berry, mocha infused, sultry textured finish. 93-96 Pts

Branon Using a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, this 500 case wine reached 14% ABV. Scents of coffee bean, truffle, tobacco and jammy blackberry meld with a big, sweet, ripe, long, smoky, jammy berry, mocha infused, sultry textured finish. 93-96 Pts

8,816 Views   Tasted
2009
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
96
2009 Branon is deep ruby with purple accents. The wine shows truffle, tobacco, cassis, caramel, and coffee notes in the nose. The palate enjoys the feeling of rich, opulent, fleshy blackberries being draped across it. The wine has a concentrated, sweet berry finish. On average, only 500 cases a year are produced of this wine. 94-96 Pts

2009 Branon is deep ruby with purple accents. The wine shows truffle, tobacco, cassis, caramel, and coffee notes in the nose. The palate enjoys the feeling of rich, opulent, fleshy blackberries being draped across it. The wine has a concentrated, sweet berry finish. On average, only 500 cases a year are produced of this wine. 94-96 Pts

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2008
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
92
The wine offers a smoke,espresso, blackberry, licorice, tobacco, cocoa and black raspberry filled perfume. From a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the wine is soft, round and supple textured, but it lacks the density found in the better vintages of this small production, Pessac Leognan wine.

The wine offers a smoke,espresso, blackberry, licorice, tobacco, cocoa and black raspberry filled perfume. From a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the wine is soft, round and supple textured, but it lacks the density found in the better vintages of this small production, Pessac Leognan wine.

4,250 Views   Tasted
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2006
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
91
Full bodied, lush, rich and concentrated, with an oaky, licorice, black cherry, cocoa and plummy character. If the oak better integrates, this will be a much better wine.

Full bodied, lush, rich and concentrated, with an oaky, licorice, black cherry, cocoa and plummy character. If the oak better integrates, this will be a much better wine.

2,760 Views   Tasted
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2005
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
93
Round, lush, fleshy, full and loaded with smoky, dark red fruits, coffee and smoke. The deep colored wine remains youthful. But the fruit is so ripe and the tannins are so soft, you can enjoy this now, or wait another 3-5 years.

Round, lush, fleshy, full and loaded with smoky, dark red fruits, coffee and smoke. The deep colored wine remains youthful. But the fruit is so ripe and the tannins are so soft, you can enjoy this now, or wait another 3-5 years.

4,141 Views   Tasted
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Fat, rich, dense and lush, with a lot of concentration, smoke, ripe, dark fruits, espresso and earth. The wine coats your palate with fruit. Low in acid, it's almost too much of a good thing. This is quite young and will only get better with more time in the cellar.

Fat, rich, dense and lush, with a lot of concentration, smoke, ripe, dark fruits, espresso and earth. The wine coats your palate with fruit. Low in acid, it's almost too much of a good thing. This is quite young and will only get better with more time in the cellar.

4,729 Views   Tasted
With its deep ruby color, this scarce wine offers a nose of black raspberry, coffee, earth, smoker and fresh herbs. This supple wine is concentrated with juicy, ripe fruit and spice. Produced in a sexy, ripe style, the wine finishes with chocolate covered berries. This is a polished and opulent Bordeaux. Only 500 cases are produced.

With its deep ruby color, this scarce wine offers a nose of black raspberry, coffee, earth, smoker and fresh herbs. This supple wine is concentrated with juicy, ripe fruit and spice. Produced in a sexy, ripe style, the wine finishes with chocolate covered berries. This is a polished and opulent Bordeaux. Only 500 cases are produced.

5,888 Views   Tasted
2004
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
90
Espresso bean, smoke, earth, licorice and ripe blackberry scents open to a forward, round, lush, modern style of wine that was made from a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Espresso bean, smoke, earth, licorice and ripe blackberry scents open to a forward, round, lush, modern style of wine that was made from a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.

2,024 Views   Tasted
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2001
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
90
Probably fully mature, the wine is soft, round and lush on the entry. You still find some oaky notes interspersed with the ripe, dark red fruits, smoke, cocoa and thyme on the nose and palate.

Probably fully mature, the wine is soft, round and lush on the entry. You still find some oaky notes interspersed with the ripe, dark red fruits, smoke, cocoa and thyme on the nose and palate.

2,126 Views   Tasted
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2000
Château Branon  (Pessac-Léognan)
94
It's interesting tasting this wine since it was released. It's clearly a wine of pleasure with its rich, lush, fat, plush textures and concentrated dark fruits. On the nose, licorice, smoke, tobacco and dark berries are also in full force. At 14 years of age, perhaps this is not going to develop a lot more complexity with additional age. However, there is no hurry to drink it as I doubt its sensual qualities are going to fade for years.

It's interesting tasting this wine since it was released. It's clearly a wine of pleasure with its rich, lush, fat, plush textures and concentrated dark fruits. On the nose, licorice, smoke, tobacco and dark berries are also in full force. At 14 years of age, perhaps this is not going to develop a lot more complexity with additional age. However, there is no hurry to drink it as I doubt its sensual qualities are going to fade for years.

6,189 Views   Tasted
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Still dark in color, with a young nose, the wine remains primary. Rich, supple, ripe and long, there is a lot going on with this modern style of Pessac Leognan. I'd give it another 3-5 years.

Still dark in color, with a young nose, the wine remains primary. Rich, supple, ripe and long, there is a lot going on with this modern style of Pessac Leognan. I'd give it another 3-5 years.

4,755 Views   Tasted
Licorice, caramel, smoke, chocolate covered boysenberries and truffle scents open to a fat, dense, low acid, fleshy, opulent wine that delivers a lot of pleasure. While this is wonderful to drink today, another 3-5 years should bring out more secondary characteristics. The wine is modern in style and sexy in an obvious way. But that's a good thing. There are times when you just want to get right down to it.

Licorice, caramel, smoke, chocolate covered boysenberries and truffle scents open to a fat, dense, low acid, fleshy, opulent wine that delivers a lot of pleasure. While this is wonderful to drink today, another 3-5 years should bring out more secondary characteristics. The wine is modern in style and sexy in an obvious way. But that's a good thing. There are times when you just want to get right down to it.

4,559 Views   Tasted
Tobacco, cigar box, cassis, chocolate, boysenberry, earth and truffle scents are found as soon as the wine slips in your glass. Your palate enjoys layers of sweet, juicy, cassis, mocha and fresh black, with a hint of oak and flashy textures. This is drinking great today and should continue to get better for at least the next decade.

Tobacco, cigar box, cassis, chocolate, boysenberry, earth and truffle scents are found as soon as the wine slips in your glass. Your palate enjoys layers of sweet, juicy, cassis, mocha and fresh black, with a hint of oak and flashy textures. This is drinking great today and should continue to get better for at least the next decade.

3,439 Views   Tasted
With its jammy black fruit, oak and licorice filled nose is plush, rich, polished and intense. This is a very suave, stylish style of wine.

With its jammy black fruit, oak and licorice filled nose is plush, rich, polished and intense. This is a very suave, stylish style of wine.

3,311 Views   Tasted
Smoke, cassis, coffee, chocolate and a hint of oak make the aromatics. Very concentrated, rich and complex. Full bodied with an opulent texture and a sexy style. Very little of this wine is made. If you see it, grab a bottle. 05 is also a great wine and the 08 looks tasty as well.

Smoke, cassis, coffee, chocolate and a hint of oak make the aromatics. Very concentrated, rich and complex. Full bodied with an opulent texture and a sexy style. Very little of this wine is made. If you see it, grab a bottle. 05 is also a great wine and the 08 looks tasty as well.

3,282 Views   Tasted