En France, grâce aux trente-cinq heures de Madame Aubry, le vendredi après-midi est souvent une après-midi de farniente dans de nombreuses entreprises françaises. Pourtant, chez Christophe Reboul-Salze l'ensemble de l'équipe est encore sur le pont jusqu'au soir! "Pas plus tard que 14 H 30" nous a-t-il bien précisé avant de venir..."Nous avons du pain sur la planche et nous ne sommes pas en vacances! Il faut aussi repasser la Garonne avant le rush des départ au ski"...

 

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In France, thanks to the thirty-five-hour workweek initiated by Ms. Aubry, Friday afternoons are often quiet and lazy in many French companies. And yet Christophe Reboul-Salze's entire team works through to the evening! ?No later than 2:30 pm,? he told us before coming? "We have our work cut out for us and we?re not on vacation! We need to be able to cross the Garonne before the big rush for ski holidays?? And so today, we invited his entire team for a tasting and lunch?and of course, a visit of the premises. Standing at attention at 12:30 pm, the Brane team welcomed Christophe Reboul-Salze, who was surrounded by his sales representatives, a few members of his back office and his buyer: Sylvie Pechstein, Laetitia Laou?, Louis Monnier, Isabelle Descoubes, Anouk Bouillet, Nathalie Rivi?re and Marie who was just hired after an internship. A lovely vertical tasting of Brane and Baron, 2009 included, was followed by a succulent and original lunch specially prepared to accompany a superb 2000, an 96 and an 83 in magnums that was fruity, vibrant and still quite radiant for its age! The subtle dessert showcased a magnificent Climens 96... At 2:30, it was hard to go back to work under these conditions!!!! Fortunately, tomorrow it?s the weekend!

Dans le cadre de ses 'Masterclass Series', la Maison Barrière Frères a reçu Henri Lurton, lundi matin, pour un exposé détaillé sur la propriété,suivi d'une verticale de Brane, puis d'un déjeuner.

Voici ce qui a été retenu par l'ensemble de l'équipe ravie de cette rencontre:

"Un GRAND terroir

Peu de petites années

L’expression aromatique des vins très marquée s’épanouit au fil des millésimes.

Les vins sont volontairement peu maquillés par le bois.

Au nez, le côté floral s’exprime gracieusement sur des notes de roses séchées (la typicité de Brane)

En bouche, les tannins sont présents mais d’une grande souplesse.

L’équilibre est parfait

 

A Brane, la symbiose entre l’homme et le terroir est empreinte de respect et de sensibilité"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In the framework of its Masterclass Series, Barri�re Fr�res welcomed Henri Lurton on Monday morning for a detailed presentation on the property followed by a vertical tasting of Brane and then lunch. The entire team was thrilled with this encounter. Here is what they remembered: ?A GREAT terroir No minor years The highly pronounced aromatic expression of the wines blossoms through the vintages. The wines are deliberately made so they are not concealed by wood. The nose is very floral with notes of dried roses (Brane's typicity) In the mouth, tannins are present but very smooth. The balance is perfect At Brane, the symbiosis between humans and the terroir is characterized by respect and sensitivity" With the ongoing goal of upgrading the skills of his sales and administrative teams, Laurent Ehrmann regularly welcomes the owners of the ch�teaux that are in Barri�re's portfolio. These studious and friendly sessions are opportunities for his field and office staff to familiarize themselves with each property's various wines, to discover each vintage in a setting other than the forwards or to simply recollect some deliverable but forgotten wines. They also allow them to meet owners in person and better understand their philosophy and ways of conceiving their job as wine-makers. For an hour or two, the producer and the Barri�re team are able to dialogue freely with no barriers. Here is what Jennifer P�ri�, who took part in this master class, had to say: ?The Brane Cantenac master class allowed us all to "go behind the scenes" of the wine thanks to Henri Lurton! He shared much more than his attachment to the property?the distinctive characteristics of the various vintages, and the Brane-Cantenac spirit, which is recognizable year after year. It was knowledge that each of us needed to be able to promote the Ch�teau's wines."

Rendez-vous incontournable depuis 6 ans, la dégustation de l'importateur Merlot d'Or à Prague a une fois encore remporté un grand succès. Cette année, elle s'est déroulée sur deux jours afin d'accueillir tous les amateurs tchèques très intéressés!

 

 

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The must-attend event for the past 6 years, the Merlot d’Or (importer) tasting in Prague met with tremendous success once again. This year, it was spread out over two days, in order to welcome as many Czech enthusiasts as possible!

Like every year since it was created in 2005, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Merlot d'Or welcomed around thirty owners from the Bordeaux region for its Audience tasting that was again held in the superb Prague Castle. So they wouldn’t have to turn anyone away, Zlatko Micka and his team had to spread this wonderful event out over two days. A crowd of enthusiasts – including many connoisseurs - showed up in the castle's large Rothmayer Hall to discover the 2007 vintage.

The Czech television also made the trip.

And so did a few loyal journalist friends who took a short break between two tasting sessions…

The gala dinner was held in the sumptuously decorated Spanish Hall on Friday night. It was chaired by the First Lady of the Czech Republic, Mrs. Livia Klausova. During the evening, she received a check from Zlakto Micka for the charity Nadacnimu Fondu, which she manages to help underprivileged children. Note that the money that was collected came from the auctioning off of wines that remained from last year’s tasting – an admirable initiative on Merlot d’Or’s part!

It was a wonderful evening. The dinner was truly excellent and worthy of a Michelin-star chef. And of course, the wines were divine!!!

Once again, we would like to thank Barrière Frères for a perfect organization from beginning to end and especially Jennifer Périé! Of course, we commend the Merlot d'Or team's hard work...in a cheerful and warm ambiance!

Chris Riccobono ne tarit pas d'éloges sur Brane dans la vidéo qu'il vient de mettre en ligne ! Les superlatifs sont nombreux et son enthousiasme pour notre vin contagieux...Plus de 17 commentaires très flatteurs suivent sa projection! Il a été convaincu...laissez-le vous convaincre aussi en cliquant sur le lien: http://pardonthatvine.com/bordeaux/2010/02/12/show-110-a-tremendous-vertical-tasting-a-brane-cantenac-in-bordeaux/

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Chris Riccobono lavishes Brane with praise in the video he just put online! It’s packed with superlatives and his enthusiasm for our wine is catching...More than 17 flattering comments follow the video! He was convinced...let him convince you by clicking this link: http://pardonthatvine.com/bordeaux/2010/02/12/show-110-a-tremendous-vertical-tasting-a-brane-cantenac-in-bordeaux/

‘I don’t have enough good things to say about this château as well as the wine,’ ‘I was blown away,’ ‘I would give this a strong recommendation’ exclaims Chris Riccobono, welcomed at the property a few weeks ago for a vertical tasting of Brane and Baron! We weren’t expecting this since we thought he would like powerful 'bodybuilt' or heady wines like many American tasters...But we were totally surprised when we discovered this wonderful video that summarizes the philosophy of Henri Lurton and the entire Brane team. In a word, Brane's wines are pleasant to drink, offering a modern style and an affordable price for the utmost pleasure of enlightened connoisseurs. It’s true that since he arrived at Brane, Henri has passed on not only his know-how but also his vision. While respecting the terroir and ensuring that it expresses itself every single year in his wines, he has looked to make Brane a second Grand Cru classé worthy of its rank. Without ever disguising Brane's typical characteristics - on the contrary, by showcasing its finesse, elegance and distinction! Chris Riccobono understood all this, especially in the 2008 and 2009 vintages. His enthusiasm is catching. We can only hope that you will be equally enchanted by our wine!

Mon parcours quelque peu marathonien a commencé par l’ESC de Bordeaux, où le très sympathique groupe ‘AOC’ m’a réservé un acceuil fort chaleureux et où nous avons fait une belle verticale de 8 millésimes différents, en clôturant avec le magnifique 1996.

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My marathon tour started at the Bordeaux ESC, where I was warmly welcomed by the very friendly ‘AOC’ group. We enjoyed a superb vertical tasting of 8 different vintages, ending with the splendid 1996.

 

On February 3^rd, I headed toward Jouy-en-Josas for Paris' prestigious HEC where I was kindly welcomed by the president of the "Grand Cru" wine-tasting club, Mr. Xavier Rehman-Fawcett (an excellent speaker!). The tasting was interesting and convivial. The group’s knowledgeable connoisseurs evaluated the wines and made comments. They also asked often relevant questions. Clearly fine wine connoisseurs!

 

My tour ended in Paris, in the 13^th arrondissement, on the Télécom ParisTech campus. In a lovely room, in front of a very attentive and cosmopolitan audience, Brane closed this fascinating encounter with its fans and future customers who, I hope, succumbed to Brane's charm. I would like to thank them for their enthusiastic welcome and their keen interest in our work and our wines!

..le 2 décembre dernier, GUILLAUME DURAND, le journaliste de France 2 et animateur le matin sur Radio Classique, savourant un délicieux dîner et dégustant (sans modération et avec délectation!) un ... Baron de Brane, notre second vin. Assemblage de Cabernet et de Merlot, vieilli en futs neufs à 20% pendant environ 12 mois, le Baron se boit un peu plus jeune que le grand vin. Il permet doncd'attendre que son grand frère soit prêt à boire... Idéal pour les budgets un peu plus serrés, ce vin est une source de plaisir convivial, tout en étant un excellent rapport qualité/prix.  Une parfaite introduction au Brane dont il a l'élégance et la finesse! Décanté en carafe avant d'être dégusté, il libérera la richesse de ses arômes de fruits noirs, ses notes boisées et ses tannins bien fondus. Il se sert par exemple sur de l 'agneau ou des viandes rouges, des fromages à pâte dures et bien d'autres mets encore...Si vous avez des suggestions ou de bons souvenirs à partager..envoyez-nous vos commentaires!

 

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…on December 2^nd, GUILLAUME DURAND, the France 2 journalist and morning host on Radio Classique, savoring a delicious dinner and tasting (without moderation and with delight!) a... Baron de Brane, our second wine. A blend of Cabernet and Merlot, aged in 20% new barrels for around 12 months, Baron is meant to be enjoyed a bit younger than our main wine. So wine-lovers can wait until its big brother is ready to drink… Ideal for tighter budgets, this wine is a source of friendly pleasure, while offering an excellent quality/price ratio. A perfect introduction to Brane, with its elegance and finesse! Decanted in a carafe before served, it will release the richness of its black fruit aromas, its woody notes and its smooth tannins. It can be served, for example, with lamb or red meat, hard cheese and many other dishes...If you have suggestions or fond memories to share...send us your comments!

En avril prochain, Les Galeries Lafayette, le plus grand magasin du monde (!) ouvriront au sein de Lafayette Gourmet, un magasin de vins fins qui, comme son nom l'indique, sera exclusivement réservé aux vins de Bordeaux! D'après l'article paru dans le Monde en décembre, les Galeries se sont associées au célèbre négociant bordelais Moueix pour créer 'la plus grande cave de bordeaux de la planète' : 3000 vins de 3 à 30 000 euros avec en vedette un Yquem 1899!'

 

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In April 2010, Les Galeries Lafayette, the world?s largest department store (!), in its Lafayette Gourmet department, will open a fine-wine store that, as its name indicates, will be exclusively reserved for Bordeaux wines! According to the article that was published in Le Monde in December, Les Galeries teamed up with the famous Bordeaux merchant Moueix to create ?the planet?s largest cellar of Bordeaux wines?: 3,000 wines from 3 to 30,000 euros with an Yquem 1899 in the spotlight!? On Friday, we had the pleasure of welcoming its new manager, Jean-R�my Porlier, accompanied by Elizabeth Jaubert from the Duclot group. In order to meet owners and familiarize himself with the region?s various terroirs and styles of wine, he tasted hundreds of crus and vintages in just a few days. An intense immersion? Before they left, we took a few good pictures to illustrate this ?brief??but surprise! When we went to put them on our blog, we discovered the camera didn?t have a memory card inserted?We sincerely apologize. However, here is an advanced look at the layout of this new shop to tempt the greatest connoisseurs! Les Galeries Lafayette is an exceptional store in the centre of Paris. Here are a few figures that will be sure to surprise you: 25 million people pass through the store every year Paris? 2nd most frequently visited location after the Eiffel Tower 53% of its turnover is generated by foreigners 70% of Japanese people who have visited France have gone to Les Galeries Lafayette? The Chinese are now the store?s main customers! Turnover: more than one billion euros? 100,000 daily customers on average? Our heads are spinning!