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the iconic plateau
IN-DEPTH SOIL ANALYSIS REVEALS WHAT MANY OF THE GREATEST TERROIRS IN BORDEAUX HAVE IN COMMON: terrace 4.
'Terrace 4' is the fourth terrace chronologically to be brought by the river in the Quaternary period. It is characterised by a sandy surface layer mostly covered by large stones of gravel, and a deep subsoil composed of the same gravel but yet with a high proportion of clay in the soil of between 10-20%. This specific composition provides the optimum growing conditions for vines, where the retention of water in the soil during periods of high rainfall is balanced by a progressive release of water by the clay in periods of drought. This continuous supply of just enough water for the vines provides stability throughout the year, regardless of the effects of the vintage.
Wines made with grapes grown on Terrace 4 have a distinctive style: silky but textured, elegant but powerful. And Brane's iconic plateau, from where Château Brane-Cantenac is born, sits 100% on Terrace 4.
our heritage
Our roots running
deep into time
Our terroir is our greatest strength, for which we are most fortunate and most thankful. For the land beneath our feet is unchangeable, but to do so would be unthinkable. Our dedication to the terroir is in recognition of its force, as the exact, perfect structure of our soils is the result of geological phenomena on a scale unmatched by even our strongest efforts.
We're just the tip of the iceberg. So much of the quality of the wine comes from below, in the soil, and everything we do is geared towards channeling this quality into every grape. And when the whole team respects the importance of the vine, that makes it easier to excel in my work.
Pierre Auché
Vineyard manager
intergenerational excellence
our vines
a continuous cycle of experience
Vines produce higher quality grapes as they age, becoming more resistant and providing richer, more concentrated fruit. On the plateau, Brane's prized Cabernet Sauvignon vines, over 60 years old, give an unparalleled transmission of terroir to grape. However, we are equally as concerned with preparing the 'old vines' of the future as preserving the vines from the previous generation – providing them with all the possible care.
biodiversity
held in perfect balance
Everything that grows on our soils must combine to work in favour of the vines and therefore requires careful management in order to hold the vineyard in a fine, delicate balance. From leaving additional plant cover to protect the vines during winter, to encouraging competition for nutrients in the soil in the spring, we constantly adapt what we sow and let grow from one season to the next.
vine-growing with care
knowing the terroir by heart
The more attention we give to each vine, the better we understand how to guide it towards providing the best quality grapes from the terroir. There is no magical recipe. Each and every vine is unique, and the team in the vineyard adapts their work to each plant, which at different times of year and throughout its lifetime requires a different care to prosper.
Each vine is pruned carefully and gently, but in the specific way that best prepares the plant for the coming growing season. Different degrees of leaf cover on the grapes are maintained to adjust for variations in exposure to the sun. Through 'green-harvesting', more bunches of grapes are removed from younger plants to drive more flavour concentration to the remaining bunches, while the older vines naturally produce less, but more concentrated fruit.
