COFFRET DE LUXE POUR GRAND CRU CLASSE

Il n’y a pas que le champagne qui mérite de s’habiller élégamment pour les fêtes !

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A revolution has overtaken the cellar!

Château Brane-Cantenac has been brimming with projects in 2010, more specifically in the areas of grape sorting and the environment.

Sorting quality has always been of utmost importance on the property - the first sorting table was adapted at Brane in the 1970s. And in 2008, the Viniclean system was introduced. But this year, Henri Lurton decided to radically modify the receiving of the harvest in order to take advantage of a brand new technology:  optical sorting. Now, grapes are transferred from the vines to the cellar using the Air Tec Wine system, the goal of which is to prevent crushing. It is based on the use of small low-floor bins equipped with an automatic compressed-air suspension system. These bins are fit with wide low-inflated tires. They are emptied slowly through vibration. The advantages of this system are that it preserves the integrity of the grape berries and limits oxidation since the grapes are treated rapidly within the half-hour after they are collected (less handling versus the crate system).

When they arrive at the cellar, the harvested grapes are sorted manually on two tables arranged in parallel. After a new destemmer, a Vistalys optical sorting line was brought into the receiving area. All of the destemmed harvest’s constituents are filmed by a camera. An ultra-fast computer analyzes the resulting image. Jets of air specifically remove all impurities. It is therefore possible to sort not only by color (stem fragments, shot berries, etc.) but also by the health of the berry (withered or affected by Botrytis). This revolutionary process achieves a state-of-the-art sorting quality. It is reliable, fast, consistent and progressive.

Having always been highly attentive to the environmental impact of the viticultural practices used on the property, Henri Lurton decided to farm 10 hectares of the vineyard in accordance with organic farming principles starting in the spring of 2010. A conversion protocol was drafted with the help of specialized advisors from the Chamber of Agriculture. All farming operations were conducted in accordance with the principles of this type of farming. The initial results are very encouraging and suggest that these practices may be rolled out to a larger surface area. In addition, the treatments applied to the other areas of the vineyards were largely performed with organic-approved products. The reduction of phytochemical inputs has been optimized, as has employee safety.

Nous ne savions pas que nous avions un grand champion de force athlétique à Brane!!!! Toujours humble et discret, Florent n'avait rien dit....

Mais il a remporté le Championnat de France de Développé-Couché endurance (catégorie - de 67,5 Kg) à Fourchambault,  en Juin dernier, battant ainsi le record de France avec 23 répétitions à 100 kg!

Un grand bravo à notre sympathique champion national dont nous sommes très fiers et surtout dont la force n'a d'égal que son humilité.

Pour en savoir plus sur Florent et son club, l'ESB, visitez le site : http://culturisme.esbomnisports.com/

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We didn’t know we had a great athletic champion working at Brane!

Ever humble and discreet, Florent hadn’t said a word…

But he won the French Bench Press Championship for endurance (- 67.5 Kg category) in Fourchambault in June, thus breaking the French record with 23 reps at 100 kg!

Congratulations to our friendly national champion of whom we are extremely proud and whose strength is equalled only by his humility.

To learn more about Florent and his club, the ESB, visit the following website: http://culturisme.esbomnisports.com/

Caption:

Florent receiving his trophy!

Robert Parker regoûte les 2000 et redonne une très belle note et appréciation à Brane!

'Fully mature and very attractive, the 2000 Brane-Cantenac, which started a succession of brilliant wines from this famous estate in the Margaux appellation, has a dark plum/ruby/purple color, a sweet, juicy nose of blue, red, and black fruits, and a hint of damp earth as well as subtle herbs. Spicy, round, complex, very lush and at its plateau of maturity, this wine should continue to drink well for another 10-15 years at minimum. This is Margaux elegance and silkiness at its very best.' 92/100

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Et ses notes de dégustation des 2009 margaux à lire... Brane tient bien son rang, et plus encore!

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And her Margaux 2009 tasting notes – a must-read! Brane holds its own, to say the least!

http://www.asianpalate.com/blog/wine-opines/initial-assessment-2009-vintage-exceptional-year-top-wines-and-very-good-others

Petite visite sympathique en fin de matinée, mercredi, de notre ami écrivain et dégustateur de vins fins, Jeff Leve (Californie, USA), toujours aussi débordé et demandé par les bordelais!  ... Il a re-dégusté Brane '90, et bien sûr,  Brane et Baron 2008 et 2009... Mais surtout, il nous a présenté son tout nouveau site web, mine d'informations sur les vins !Un beau site, complet et détaillé allant des notes de dégustation aux petites anecdotes et aux mariages vins et mets car Jeff est aussi un très grand chef à ses heures! Sa page facebook en témoigne avec des photos de plats alléchants magnifiques....

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We enjoyed a short, pleasant visit at the end of the morning on Wednesday from our writer friend and taster of fine wines, Jeff Leve (California, USA), who, like always, was very busy and in demand!  ... He re-tasted Brane ’90, and of course, Brane and Baron 2008 and 2009. But most importantly, he presented his brand new website, a mine of information about wine! An attractive, comprehensive and detailed site combining tasting notes, anecdotes and food and wine pairings because Jeff is also a great cook! His Facebook page is proof, with photos of superb, mouth-watering dishes...

 Visit: http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/?page_id=2784

Lundi, Henri Lurton ouvrait ses portes au monde viticole de 'down under' en recevant Steve Smith, MW, directeur de Craggy Range, une winery de la région de Gimblett Gravels, située dans l'est de l'île du Nord de la Nouvelle-Zélande! Dans le cadre de nos dégustations 'extra-ordinaires' et sur une idée de Ch'ng Poh Tiong, écrivain et journaliste du vin, éditeur de The Wine Review, et de Steve Smith, nous avions convié voisins, amis et collègues à déguster 6 vins présentés dans 3 millésimes différents...

Une rencontre très intéressante, tout comme celle avec les Californiens reçus il y a deux ans.

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On Monday, Henri Lurton opened his doors to the wine-making world of Down Under to host Steve Smith, MW, director of Craggy Range, a winery from the Gimblett Gravels region, located in the eastern part of the North Island of New Zealand! In the framework of our ‘extraordinary’ tasting sessions and on the initiative of Ch'ng Poh Tiong, wine writer and journalist, publisher of The Wine Review, and Steve Smith, we invited neighbors, friends and colleagues to taste 3 different vintages of 6 wines.

The event was truly interesting, just like the one that had been organized with Californians two years before.

Once again, Brane showed that Margaux and Bordeaux don’t rest on their laurels, that their producers are open-minded and not self-centered, that they are perfectly aware of the impact of global competition and that they are always curious about what's happening elsewhere in the world with their same grape varieties...A discreet but often cutting-edge property, Brane is constantly changing and instigating change...The next meeting? What not great Tuscan wines?

The Bordeaux owners in attendance reacted enthusiastically...starting with Henri Lurton, who made the following statement at the end of the tasting:

“Delicious wines…with freshness, a solid structure and a marked vintage effect. Very pure.’

Here is a series of comments from our guests noted right after the tasting:

‘Wonderful tasting! Remarkable 2007, great balance, finesse, harmony and complexity.’ Nathalie Schÿler, Château Kirwan, Margaux

‘A tasting of great New Zealand wines in Margaux…A welcome and enriching experience, with a shared objective, the quest for balance, in a different reality.' Jean- Emmanuel Danjoy, Château Clerc Milon-Rothschild

‘A unique opportunity to taste an impressive sampling of red wines from New Zealand. Some of them are fine, balanced, racy and elegant wines.’ Christophe Labenne, Château Poujeaux

‘Great red Bordeaux grapes, adapted to New Zealand’s territory by talented wine-makers. A fantastic idea that should be repeated as soon as possible! Thanks, Henri.’ Vincent Priou, Château Beauregard

‘An impressive tasting where we discovered the Cabernets and gravel of Gimblett in New Zealand which will delight connoisseurs.’ Anne Cuvelier, Château Léoville Poyferré

‘Wine-makers with character from New Zealand who showcase the country’s original nature by producing wines characterized by unexpected complexity and subtlety. Their wines are not competitors but rather ambassadors, as they express the classical academic bases which are harmony and balance and yet don't get caught up in excess to give an illusion of quality. Conclusion – Just like their rugby, they defend life’s core values!’ Jean Claude Berrouet, Château Pétrus

‘A fabulous tasting of Kiwi wines…Elegance, balance, wonderfully pleasant wines…We’re looking forward to sharing our own wines Down Under!’ Philippe Blanc, Château Beychevelle

‘We loved this tasting featuring this region in New Zealand. It was interesting to note that terroir is just as important there and that all the vintages are different. I found the 2000 wines to be fresh and well balanced. We had a wonderful time and we look forward to enjoying our next bottle of Gimblett Gravels!'  Lilian Barton-Sartorius, Château Léoville Barton

The Bordeaux attendees’ three favorite wines in the district of Gimblett Gravels

Number 1: 2009 CRAGGY RANGE ‘SOPHIA’

Number 2: 2007 CRAGGY RANGE ‘THE QUARRY’

Number 3: CHURCH ROAD ‘TOM’ 2007 AND CRAGGY RANGE 'SOPHIA' 2007

In attendance for this journey to the other side of the globe:

Domaines Rothschild: Mr. Georges Alnot and Mr. Yann Buchwalter

Château Palmer: Thomas Duroux

Château Léoville Barton: Lilian Barton

Château Langoa Barton: Michel Sartorius

Château Carbonnieux: Eric Perrin

Château Léoville Poyferré: Anne Cuvelier

Château Léoville LasCases: Tamara McIntosh

Château La Conseillante: Bertrand Nicolas

Château Coutet: Aline Baly

Château Dauzac: Christine Lurton

Château Giscours: Alexander Van Beeck

Château La Tour de Bessan: Marie-Laure Lurton

Château Poujeaux: Christophe Labenne

Château Beauregard: Vincent Priou

Château Beychevelle: Philippe Blanc

Château d’Angludet: Allan Sichel

Château Pichon Baron, Petit Village, Suduiraut etc.: Christian Seely

Château Clerc Milon-Rothschild: Jean Emmanuel Danjoy

Château Calon-Ségur: Vincent Millet

Château Lafon Rochet: Mr. Basile Tesseron and Mr. Lucas Leclerc

Château Kirwan: Nathalie Schyler

Château Pétrus: Mr. Berrouet

Château Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande: Gildas d’Olone

Château d’Angludet: Allan Sichel

Eric Boissenot, oenologist

Mr Viaud, oenologist (Michel Rolland’s lab)

Laurent Ehrmann, merchant, Barrière Frères

Yann Jestin, broker

Philippe Chatonnet,  Université de Bordeaux

 Press members: Jane Anson, Decanter.com (press)

Thibault Reichell and Alain Aviotte, Planet Vins et Spiritueux (press)

Guy Charneau, Tast (press)

Captions:

Steve Smith, from Craggy Range and Henri Lurton, owner of Brane-Cantenac

Ch'ng Poh Tiong, wine writer and publisher of the Wine Review

Christophe Capdeville, Technical Director at Brane serving Craggy Range

Florent Cillero, our cellar manager, serving Craggy Range

Monique Cocureau and Maria Martinez Ojeda serving Tom

Ch'ng Poh Tiong and Steve Smith surrounding Jean Claude Berrouet from Pétrus

Jane Anson, Decanter.com, taking notes

Docteur Nicolas, La Conseillante and Eric Perrin, Carbonnieux

Alain Aviotte, journalist, Michel Tesseron, Lafon Rochet and Thibault Reichell, Planet Vins

Lilian Barton, Léoville Barton and Alexander Van Beech, Giscours and DuTertre

Vincent Millet, Calon Ségur, Paul Chatonnet, Université de Bordeaux and Eric Boissenot, oenologist

 Nathalie Schuler, Kirwan, and Marie Laure Lurton, la Tour de Bessan

Georges Alnot, Domaines Rothschild, Mr. Viaud, oenologist (Michel Rolland Lab) and Yann Buchwalter, Clark

Christine Lurton Dauzac and Henri Lurton ...first cousins!

Nathalie Schyler and Guy Charneau, Tast

Laurent Ehrmann, Barrière Frères

Jean Emmanuel Danjoy, Clerc Milon Rothschild

Steve Smith and Gildas D'Olone from Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Philippe Blanc from Beychevelle, and Nathalie Schyler, Kirwan...

Brane, mercredi matin 8:45 am, nous accueillions la réunion annuelle du 'Board of Governors' de la Commanderie de Bordeaux aux USA. Tables en U style salle de classe, rétroprojecteurs, petit café et viennoiseries...tout y était pour rappeler qu'il s'agissait d'un meeting sérieux, en dépit du cadre un peu plus champêtre que de coutume. Une visite du chai avec Henri Lurton suivie d'une belle dégustation des 2009, 2008 et 2007 ont précédé un déjeuner dans la salle de dégustation.

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At Brane, on Wednesday morning at 8:45 am, we hosted the annual meeting of the ‘Board of Governors’ of the Commanderie de Bordeaux from the US. Classroom-style U-tables, overhead projectors, coffee and pastries... the event was presented so as to remind the participants that it was a serious meeting, in spite of the setting that was slightly more rustic than usual. A visit of the cellar with Henri Lurton followed by a fine tasting of the 2009, 2008 and 2007 preceded a luncheon in the tasting room.

After tasting a very young Fourcas-Hosteins 2009, brought by Peter Sichel, the forty-member group enjoyed a Brane 2004 with the starter, then a Brane 2000 with a delicious lamb ‘charlotte,’ and to finish, a superb Brane 95, a perfect pairing for cheese.

Some speeches were given, a few announcements were made, and then an extravagant gift (a decanter from Tiffany’s) was given to Henri Lurton by Angus Smith who had organized everything just wonderfully...before the group got on a bus for the next leg of their tour: their program was packed! But they seemed to have been pleased with their meeting and happy to have had the pleasure of talking to Henri in person while discovering his wines.

We must do this again soon!

Le bureau était sans dessus-dessous, Henri Lurton vissé au téléphone, le chai entrain d'être réaménagé, les barriques d'être installées pour les vendanges...et les serpillères séchaient dans le cuvier...piètre tableau... mais malgré la grisaille et l'ambiance survoltée de la sortie des primeurs, nous avons eu un plaisir fou à recevoir l'équipe de Simple, accompagnée comme chaque année par Bisso Atanassov...

Un groupe formidable et drôle de bons connaisseurs qui ont apprécié la région en général, ses vins en particulier et leurs visites dans plusieurs propriétés magnifiques. Ils termineront leur escapade bordelaise demain au Cap Ferret ... chez un ostreiculteur! Nous leur souhaitons beau temps pour apprécier la beauté de notre cher Bassin d'Arcachon....

Le groupe, cette année, était composé de Marina Ageeva, pdg de nombreux restaurants à Kaliningrad, de Dimitri Dulenin, directeur du Sheremetyevo Park Hotel, de Sergey Romanov, de Vladivostok, et propriétaire de restaurants, de Denis Borodin, lui aussi de Vladivostok et directeur régional pour Simple.  Du Tatarstan est venu Yakov Tseinshtein, propriétaire de la société 'Galerie du Vin' et d'oenothèques nombreuses. Et enfin de Moscou, nous accueillions Kirill Sannikov, Natalya Rapoport et Bisso, bien sûr, tous de Simple à Moscou.

Grâce aux traductions de Bisso, nous avons pu échanger impressions et quelques fous rires très détendants pendant cette période particulièrement difficile qu'est celle des primeurs. Monsieur Laurent Ehrmann, bien qu'assez tendu, nous a fait le grand plaisir de les accompagner quelques heures... entre deux prises de position!

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The office was in total disarray, Henri Lurton was glued to the phone, the cellar was being rearranged, barrels were being installed for harvest season…and floor cloths were drying in the vat-room…what a mess…but in spite of the dull weather and the overexcited atmosphere that was reigning over the primeurs release, we were absolutely delighted to host the Simple team which, like every year, was accompanied by Bisso Atanassov.

This remarkable, entertaining group of top connoisseurs appreciated the region in general, its wines in particular and their visits of several outstanding properties. Their tour of the Bordeaux region will end tomorrow in Cap Ferret…where they will visit an oyster farmer! We hope the weather is nice so that they can properly appreciate the beauty of our beloved Arcachon Bay!

This year, the group included Marina Ageeva, CEO of several restaurants in Kaliningrad; Dimitri Dulenin, director of Sheremetyevo Park Hotel; Sergey Romanov, restaurant owner from Vladivostok; and Denis Borodin, also from Vladivostok and regional director for Simple. Visiting from Tatarstan was Yakov Tseinshtein, owner of the company ‘Galerie du Vin’ and of several wine bars. And from Moscow, we welcomed Kirill Sannikov, Natalya Rapoport and Bisso, of course, all from Simple in Moscow.

Thanks to Bisso’s translations, we exchanged our impressions and laughter, finally able to relax a bit during this particularly difficult period of the primeurs season. Mr. Laurent Ehrmann, while fairly tense, kindly agreed to accompany them for a few hours…between two public statements!

Here are a few pictures of this enjoyable visit:

Avec un prix départ négoce respectivement de 43,20€ et 13,20 €, notre affaire s'est faite dans la journée . Nous remercions nos fidèles clients de nous avoir suivis et leur souhaitons de grands moments de plaisir lorsqu'ils ouvriront leurs flacons et dégusteront ce grand millésime qu'est le 2009 et que le monde est en train de s'arracher! 

Un millésime 'ENORME' comme l'a si bien dit la couverture du magazine Vinum récemment!

With an ex-warehouse price of €43.20 and €13.20 respectively, the job was done in just one day. We’d like to thank our customers for their loyalty and hope they will experience great moments of pleasure when they open their bottles and taste this fine 2009 vintage that everyone wants to get their hands on!

As the cover of the magazine Vinum recently said, it's a 'HUGE' vintage!

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Superbe Nase von Himbeeren und Blumen, mineralische Noten; zeigt Rasse und Dichte, Frische und Eleganz, das Finale ist fruchtig, die Tannine raffiniert: noch einmal besser als der 2008.2016 bis 2025 

Rolf Bichsel und Barbara Schroeder

Superb nose of raspberry and flowers, mineral notes. Racy and dense, fresh and elegant. Fruity finish, refined tannins. Even better than the 2008; 2016-2025

Rolf Bichsel and Barbara Schroeder