A sensational effort from this garagiste estate in Pessac-Leognan, Branon's 2006 is a blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Its dense purple color is followed by soaring aromas of scorched earth, burning embers, creme de cassis, incense, and charcoal. Full-bodied with superb concentration, a multidimensional mouthfeel, moderate tannins, and a long finish, it should be at its finest between 2013-2025.
Tasted blind at the Farr Vintners' 2006 horizontal, the 2006 Château Branon possesses an upfront bouquet with blackberry and briary, undergrowth and clove scents that display good intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with juicy ripe tannin, well-judged acidity, not overly complex, but nicely defined with a crisp, lightly spiced, cedar-tinged finish. The word that sprung to mind is "delicious." Enjoy this Pessac-Léognan over the next decade.
Full ruby. Sexy aromas of roasted currant, plum, mocha, burning tobacco and smoky oak. Rich, lush, broad and dry, with smoky plum, currant, mocha, tobacco and smoked meat flavors displaying an exotic roasted aspect. For all its volume, though, this wine reveals no easy sweetness. The dusty, building tannins reach the front teeth.
A 600-case cuvee that could be called a vin de garage of the Graves, this wine is fashioned under the auspices of the talented and ambitious Helene Garcin with the assistance of Dr. Alain Raynaud. A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, the 2006 reveals a distinctive nose of scorched earth, blueberry jam, spicy, high class French oak, and smoke. Full-bodied with striking minerality, it tastes like the essence of the Graves appellation. This pure, rich effort should age beautifully for 20+ years.
Tasted at Clos l'Eglise. This has an overtly fruit driven nose with ripe, rounded raspberry and cherry. Perhaps lacking a little complexity, but very fine definition. The palate has firm tannins and just a little astringency, quite sinewy on the blackcurrant and tobacco-tinged finish. Unresolved here, this should meld together in barrel and merit a higher score down the line. Tasted April 2007.
Good deep red. Wild aromas of plum, truffle, meat, mocha and brown spices. Fat, full and broad, with lovely depth of sweet plummy flavor and captivating hints of minerals, tobacco and mocha. Finishes impressively long and ripe, with plenty of tannic grip. This seems suaver than a barrel sample I tasted last spring.