Affluent Page Features: Bordeaux Enchantment
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Transcript of Affluent Page Features: Bordeaux Enchantment
8/6/2019 Affluent Page Features: Bordeaux Enchantment
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/affluent-page-features-bordeaux-enchantment 1/3AFFLUENT PAGE | MARCH 2011
Indulge
Bordeaux
Enchantment
In the 2,000 year history o
the wine world, Classiied Growth
Bordeaux still retains its magic, value and
allure. Created in 1735, Margaux-based Château
Brane-Cantenac caught the roving eye o the “Donald Trump”
o the Bordeaux wine world in 1833: Baron Hector de Brane. By
all accounts Brane was quite the socialite, and despite his vibrant
personality, he had a deep scientifc educational background and
was largely responsible in identiying Cabernet Sauvignon as the
Médoc’s ‘premier grape.’ By the time o the 1855 classifcation,Brane-Cantenac achieved the loty second Growth classifcation.
Today the château is under the direction o the charming Henri
Lurton, whose amily bought the estate in 1925. Unlike many
château owners who live in Paris and hire a vineyard manager to
look ater their property, Henri Lurton lives near his vines and
can be seen in the vineyard almost daily, examining the grounds
or overseeing trellising work. Near harvest, he tastes the grapes or
ripeness in addition to sending the results or laboratory analysis.
Recently, he invested in an optical sorter in addition to handpicking,
which ensures that only the ripest grapes make the frst wine.
Why this dedication? Perhaps it’s due to the act that as eldest
son, Henri received Brane-Cantenac, the amily’s most prestigious
estate, while the other nine siblings were bequeathed lesser estates.
The 1952 Margaux-based Brane-Cantenac
has enjoyed heated bidding in the
international auction market, with
an estimated $900 retail value as
a Second growth estate vintage.
By Marisa D’Vari
“Henri Lurton lives near his vinesand can be seen in the vineyard
almost daily, examining thegrounds or overseeing
trellising work.”
8/6/2019 Affluent Page Features: Bordeaux Enchantment
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/affluent-page-features-bordeaux-enchantment 2/3APRIL 2011 | AFFLUENT PAG
8/6/2019 Affluent Page Features: Bordeaux Enchantment
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Indulge
AFFLUENT PAGE | APRIL 2011
Or that in the winery, the year “1925” (the year o the amily’s
acquisition) is carved into the wall, reminding Henri daily about
his grandather’s dedication to the brand. Either way, the highly
credentialed owner holds oenology degrees rom many
institutions, including the University o Bordeaux, and as a young man worked in South Ar ica, Australia and Chile to
perect his skills and learn the newest technology in the industry.
Brane-Cantenac is one o the frst Classifed Growth estates to
make this expensive investment o the optical sorter, signiying its
continued desire to move toward the modern age and create the
fnest wines on the market.
Vintage variation is so crucial in Bordeaux there can be a
several hundred dollar dierence rom one vintage to the next.
The 1952 vintage sells or nearly $900 on the international online
market — a very rare occurrence due to an excellent vintage. On
the nose, the wine is resh and lively, with concentrated black ruit
on the palate and the kind o acidity and balance with frm
tannins, which is responsible or its incredible longevity.
Many people assume that the older the wine, the better. While
this is usually true or Classifed Growth Bordeaux, Burgundy and
Barolo, at some point (typically 15 to 20 years) the wines plateauand then slowly all apart. The reshness o Brane-Cantenac’s 1952
is a testament to the vintage and the skill o the Lurtons
as winemakers.
French tradition dictates that the most expensive and rare wines
are served at the end o the meal, and usually with cheese. And
in the case o the 1952, this is an appropriate choice as the wine
still has incredible acidity and concentrated depth o ruit, yet the
tannin is soter, and not as appropriate or steak as it would have
been in its prime.
Brane-Cantenac,+33.557.888.333, www.brane-cantenac.com
“The freshness of Brane-Cantenac’s1952 is a testament to the vintageand the skill of the Lurtons as
winemakers.”