Madame Cho et Madame Henri Lurton (Isabelle)

 

Lundi 22 juin, les propriétaires de château Brane-Cantenac recevaient pour déjeuner Madame CHO et son groupe d'invités venus tout spécialement de Corée pour Vinexpo.
La visite, suivie d'une dégustation, avait été orchestrée par Monsieur Sacha Lichine, proche de Madame CHO, déjà très grande fan de Brane, comme d'ailleurs le reste de ses compatriotes! Parmi les amis qui l'accompagnaient, se trouvait Monsieur Bang, conseiller en vins de la famille CHO, qu'avait rencontré Henri Lurton lors de la dégustation avec le magazine Winies, en novembre dernier, à Séoul. Un très grand amateur et connaisseur de Bordeaux... Il y avait aussi de nombreux chefs d'entreprises et quelques unes de leurs épouses. Henri et Isabelle Lurton avaient choisi des millésimes en 5...2005, 1995 et 1985 et Madame CHO a reçu en cadeau le millésime de sa naissance!

Une magnifique façon d'entamer la semaine de Vinexpo!

 

 

Henri Lurton faisant visiter le chai de Brane

 

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Mrs. Cho and Mrs. Henri Lurton (Isabelle)

For lunch on Monday June 22, Château Brane-Cantenac’s owners welcomed Mrs. Cho and her group of guests who were visiting the region from Korea specially for Vinexpo.
The visit, which was followed by a tasting, had been organized by Mr. Sacha Lichine, a friend of Mrs. Cho, who was already a big fan of Brane like the rest of her compatriots! One of the friends who accompanied her was Mr. Bang, a wine consultant from the Cho family, whom Henri Lurton had met during the tasting with the Winies magazine last November in Seoul. He is a great fan and connoisseur of Bordeaux… There were also many company directors and a few of their wives. Henri and Isabelle Lurton had chosen vintages ending in 5 (2005, 1995 and 1985) and Mrs. Cho was given the vintage of her year of birth as a gift!

It was a fabulous way to start Vinexpo week!

Henri Lurton showing the guests the Brane cellar

During the tasting, Mrs. Cho surrounded by a few of her friends

Ce matin, après l'avoir 'harponné' sur Facebook, nous avons eu le plaisir de faire la connaissance de Jeff Leve, critique, écrivain du vin, personnalité de la radio....Un personnage dont nous avions entendu parler mais que nous n'avions jamais rencontré

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This morning, after having ‘cornered’ him on Facebook, we had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Leve, a critic, wine writer and radio personality…Someone we had heard of but had never met.

It was a traditional tasting, commented by Henri and led by…Jeff Davies and his great sense of humor! Our two latest vintages were featured, plus a Baron 2005 and 2000, the Brane 99 and the superb and fresh 1989!

Jeff Leve promised he would come back next year, to spend a little more time at Brane - at least for lunch or dinner!

Samedi 13 juin, nous avons eu le plaisir de recevoir le Barreau de Bordeaux ainsi que les représentants des plusieurs barreaux européens pour une visite de Brane suivie d’un déjeuner.

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On Saturday June 13, we had the pleasure of hosting the Bordeaux Bar Association in addition to the representatives of several European bar associations for a visit of Brane followed by a lunch.

The atmosphere was relaxed and the 95-person group was very cosmopolitan! There were people from Belgium, Spain, Germany and Switzerland and of course, a few Bordeaux residents.

The day started with a visit of the property, which was followed by a tasting of Baron de Brane 2003 and Château Brane-Cantenac 2003. After a delicious lunch served with a Baron de Brane 2004 and a Château Brane-Cantenac 2000, we got to hear Sylvie de Lestrange and Cédric Bernart sing Verdi’s “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves” a capella – a real delight!

Here are a few pictures for you. It was an unforgettable day…

Sylvie de Lestrange with Cédric Bernart

Last May 11^th we had the pleasure of having with us The Wine School of Philadelphia for a visit and tasting of our wines.

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 Grande première, Brane s'affiche pour Vinexpo!

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For the first time ever, Brane is being featured on billboards for Vinexpo!

From June 17 to 23, for the first time ever, Henri Lurton, who is generally very discrete, selected JC Decaux to display Brane’s new visual and its ‘Just Brane’ slogan on billboards in the city of Bordeaux. Draped in golden silk, the Brane bottle appears bare so its new label can be seen. This is a great opportunity because the whole world will be in Bordeaux for Vinexpo!

Here is an excerpt from the press release that will be sent to wine merchants and the press for 2007’s launch:

“Change without changing’ – that says it all. A daring idea on the part of Henri Lurton, and an ambitious project for our printer…Why replace a label that has been attracting fans for such a long time? The one-of-a-kind Brane label had become a sort of untouchable institution. And yet, with the passing years and legislative requirements, its balance and its style had been disrupted with an accumulation of fonts and legal information. The château therefore wanted to get back to the basics and focus on what was important: Just Brane!

Resolutely minimalist, refined and sophisticated, our new label highlights, literally and figuratively, the name of château BRANE-CANTENAC, in curved hot-stamped black, with its classic ageless font. Grand Cru Classé and the name of its just-as-famous owner Henri Lurton are printed discretely in gold. The Margaux appellation, printed in black in the same font as the word Château, is featured on top while the frame and the lilies, embellishments that the engraver also reworked, draw attention to the rest. Brane’s inimitable style is represented by the unique powdered gold background and plastic coating.

All mandatory information is now featured on the back label, its alter-ago: black background and text in hot-stamped gold.”

So that’s what ‘Change without changing’ means!

Samedi 30 mai, Château Brane-Cantenac participait comme chaque année à « La Médocaine de VTT ».  

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On Saturday May 30, like every other year, Château Brane-Cantenac took part in the latest edition of the Médocaine Bike Race. On this lovely, sunny day, we welcomed over 6,000 bikers who tasted our Château Notton 2004 and 2003. Our highly active vineyard team also participated in this event, by representing Brane in the Vinathlon. The racers, who were in a great mood and full of energy throughout the race, performed stupendously, finishing 16^th! Here are a few pictures of this enjoyable day, and a link to the video that was broadcast on Sport6, a national program on M6, on May 31 at noon:

Posted: Monday, June 08 2009. 13:50

Brane-Cantenac : Where Tradition Balances Innovation

It was early evening at the opulent Oberoi Hotel, New Delhi. Excitement was rising in anticipation as the respected, world renowned wine maker and owner of Château Brane-Cantenac prepared to present a vertical tasting of his  2ème Grand Cru Classé. Lara Ward shares her olfactory experience.

“Not so powerful in structure, but elegant” is how Henri Lurton likes to describe his wines from Château Brane-Cantenac.   THE HISTORY One of ten children, Henri (in addition to one brother and sister) was gifted Château Brane-Cantenac by their father in 1992. Over time Henri bought out his brother and sister to be sole owner of the family estate. Brane-Cantenac is founded on a plateau of 90 hectares in the Margaux appellation, made up mostly of large sized gravel, which have been delivered from the mountains by the Gironde River over time. This deep gravely soil drains exceptionally well and creates ideal growing conditions for the vines. It also promotes deep root growth providing trace minerals adding a complexity to the taste of the wines. The Margaux appellation is made up of just 1,300 hectares in total, and is situated in the Médoc region to the west of the Gironde River, where the river splits to form the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers. Henri has aligned himself with 4 oenologists, even though he brings to the Château his found knowledge from working in Australia and Chile. He likes to adapt this international knowledge to the place he calls home, and find a style appropriate to the terroir that Margaux is so quintessentially famous for. THE VERTICAL TASTING   Henri Lurton personally presented the eight wines from the 2007 vintage through to the eagerly awaited 2000 vintage, all second growth in the classification of 1855.   Typical of Margaux, the eight wines shown had a full-flavoured bouquet with magnificent elegance. The wines are a blend of vats that have been selected for their suppleness which is aged just like the ‘Grand Vin’, although for a 12 month period. Château Brane-Cantenac gave themselves the challenging task of producing wines that are both very elegant but will age well, and have succeeded. Henri stands by his adage of “It’s very important for Margaux wines to have soft tannins” and produces wines considering them “A little bit like a marathon” beginning with the terroir, through to the production, aging and finally drinking, but only when ready. Château Brane-Cantenac’s wines are predominantly driven by the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, with Merlot to add the softness and a lesser amount of Petit Verdot to aid the aromatics. The exact blend varies from vintage to vintage and when deciding on this, Henri makes a selection from over 100 samples, and it comes down to a question of balance over blend.   The quality of tannins takes priority over the quantity of tannins, which is paramount to Château Brane-Cantenac. Additional to this, the qualities of the wines doesn’t come down to fashion; it results in producing a wine that primarily is one that Henri enjoys himself and second to that, it is about finding those consumers that will buy the wine. He seems to have found the answer to his success.   The wines are aged in new French oak barrels for 16-20 months before bottling. The characteristics of these wines enable them to be enjoyed 5-6 years after bottling, and beyond. They are all delicious and match well with both spicy lamb dishes and chicken dishes alike. So why don’t you find out for yourself, and enjoy a glass (or bottle) of history and international acclaim, and discover the beauty that Château Brane-Cantenac brings to India. Wines Tasted Vintage Blend Tasting Notes   2007 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc Too young, although dark spicy fruit, rounded, creamy quality on palate which is gentle and understated. Spicy tannins, and balance of character. 2006 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc Red fruits, mixed with spices and toast. Forward elegance, round tannic structure, aromas of cherry and vanilla.  2005 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc Red fruits, berries and flowers. A big wine, well integrated tannins. Long, fresh finish. Made impeccably.  2004 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc Clean nose, notes of fruits, tobacco, flowers and spice. Great suppleness, long finish, lingering notes of toast and fruits.  2003 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc Complex nose with toasty vanilla. Need oxygenation to develop black fruits, spices and tobacco. Balanced with long aromatic finish. 2002 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc Aromatic nose of spice, balsamic and oak, with tobacco and liquorice. Silky tannic structure. Lingering finish. 2001 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc Aromas of roast coffee. Displays spices, flowers, raspberries and blackberries with notes of leather and tobacco. Long, powerful oak finish. 2000 55% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc Aromas of black fruit with oak initially. Complexity with black currant, red fruit jam, leather aroma, floral notes. Ripe tannins, long lingering finish.  Lara Ward Lara is an Australian who has been living for the past 10 years in England until recently. She is a Panelist with the Indian Wine Academy. With a background in marketing, Lara has worked most recently in London for the Bordeaux Wine Council (C.I.V.B.) on their UK account. With a passion for wine and writing, she is keen to broaden her knowledge whilst in India and share her experiences with our readers.

Du 2000 au 2007 inclus.... 8 millésimes de Brane ont été dégustés par un panel de dégustateurs avertis et de journalistes indiens invités par la société d'importation Brindco et le magazine Sommelier India. Henri Lurton a présenté sa proprité, sa philosophie et détaillé chaque millésime.

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GROS SUCCES D'HENRI LURTON ET DE BRANE EN INDE!

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HENRI LURTON AND BRANE MEET WITH TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN INDIA!

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Tous les deux ans, Monsieur Bourtembourg, gros client de la maison Diva, accompagne le groupe d'amateurs passionnés, Vin sur Vin, en visite dans la région bordelaise. Depuis des années, un arrêt à Brane figure à leur programme, un rituel que personne ne manquerait!

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Every other year, Mr. Bourtembourg, an important client of Maison Diva, accompanies the Vin sur Vin wine enthusiast club on its visit to the Bordeaux region. For the past few years, its program has included a stop at Brane, which has since become a precious ritual.

Thirsty and dripping with sweat, the club’s members arrived around 7 pm after having taken a long bus tour of Médoc… Several glasses of cold water later, they were ready to taste Brane’s two latest vintages. Visiting from Germany, Luxembourg and northern France, our guests particularly appreciated the gorgeous weather. The day’s stifling heat was followed by a cool, delightful summer evening, with the setting sun peeking through the trees all the way to the château’s lawn. Thrilled to finally be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside and relax, they took quite a few pictures before the meal. On the menu: bass meunière cooked in a red-wine reduction and served with artichokes, then noisettes of lamb with baby vegetables, a selection of mature cheeses and to finish, a delicious ‘quintessence’ of red fruits – very refreshing and perfect for the season! The meal was served with a Brane 2004, the noble 2000, and a superb 1995!

Everyone had a great time and, like always, Henri Lurton was delighted to see his friends Mr. and Mrs. Bourtembourg.