Dominique Renard has very few opportunities to get away... But we wanted to have a last convivial lunch with him before his departure and get to know Jean Moueix a bit better…

After a preview tasting of Brane and Baron 2009 and 2008, Chef Thibault Servas made us an excellent and original menu to accompany the wines that Henri had chosen to honor our guests. Baron 2000 with the starter was superb, round, pleasant, as charming as its big brother and totally surprising! Smooth, full of blackcurrant, black fruits and violet, it always takes your breath away! Then, with calf sweetbreads and sweet spices, came Brane 2000. Still young and with a long life ahead of it, it nevertheless paired magically with the rest. Just as delicious as it was in Edinburgh and London over the weekend, it delighted us with hints of blackcurrant and ripe cherry. After a powerful attack, it completely melts in your mouth while remaining distinctive and delicate. Its solid structure is encased in silk!

The cheeses, matured by Michèle Cols-Boada, were served with an equally magical 1995 (the very same one that won the Margaux 95 competition at the Jakarta Commanderie de Bordeaux just a few weeks ago). Belonging to a hot and dry vintage, it has preserved all its freshness and aromas, thanks to the vigilance of Henri Lurton who had collected all the very ripe grapes without them being...overripe. A tremendous success! A magnificent aromatic palette, texture, a perfect balance, complexity but especially great finesse. What a fine wine!

We finished with a totally explosive 1989 that caused Dominique Renard to conclude saying ‘It’s with this type of vertical tasting that we realize that Brane's wines improve remarkably with age, and that they are truly meant to age!!!'