Brane Cantenac

Château Brane Cantenac

Classification: Second Growth (2ème Cru)
Château Brane Cantenac lies on the Brane Plateau and neighbours Châteaux Cantenac Brown and Boyd Cantenac. The château was originally an estate of high repute named Château Gorce (sometimes known as Gorse). Its wine was considered the equal of Château Margaux in price and was listed as a second growth in pre-1855 classifications.

The château was bought by Baron Hector de Branne in 1833 and took his name. Baron Brane was an influential local figure known as "Napoléon of the Vines" and was responsible for the identification of Cabernet Sauvignon as the Médoc's primary grape. The château was so prestigious that Baron Brane sold the land that today is Château Mouton Rothschild (then known as Château Brane Mouton) to help finance the purchase of this estate. With the Baron's total devotion to the vineyard, the wine was estimated to be the finest produced in Cantenac and was unofficially ranked as the “first of the 2ème Crus”.

Château Brane Cantenac was purchased by the Lurton family in 1922 and is now run by Henri Lurton. With Henri Lurton's guidance there has been extensive investment at the château and the wines are classically elegant and made with great finesse.

The vineyards of Château Brane Cantenac cover 222 acres but the Grand Vin is made from an unbroken block of vines standing in front of the château on the gravel outcrop Plateau de Brane. This block has remained unchanged for 3 centuries. The gravel here is 12 metres deep. The grape varieties grown are 62.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 0.5% Carmenere – which is an usual rarity these days in Bordeaux.

Wine Style
The wines from Château Brane Cantenac are admired for their exotic bouquet of spice, sandalwood, mint and an apple character which makes them accessible 5-6 years after bottling. The flavours are of cassis and ripe raspberries and the wines age well.

Owner: Henri Lurton
Château Website: www.brane-cantenac.com
Oenologist: Henri Lurton