Château Brane-Cantenac

シャトー・ブラーヌ・カントナック

1855 Second Growth on Margaux's highest plateau; silky & perfumed

Château Brane-Cantenac is a historic Second Growth (Deuxième Cru Classé) estate in the Margaux appellation, Bordeaux, France. The estate traces its origins to the early 17th century as Domaine Guilhem Hosten, developed by the Gorce family in the late 18th century. In 1833 it was acquired by Baron Hector de Brane — known as the 'Napoléon of the Vines' — who had previously owned what is now Château Mouton Rothschild. The estate earned its Second Growth classification in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification, a status it has held without interruption. The Lurton family acquired Brane-Cantenac in 1925; since 1992, Henri Lurton — son of Lucien Lurton and a trained viticulturist and oenologist — has managed the estate with meticulous dedication. Under Henri's leadership the 75-hectare vineyard has been systematically improved: vine densities increased, drainage enhanced, and organic farming introduced across more than a quarter of the estate. The grand vin is planted to 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenère on the celebrated Plateau de Brane — the highest point in Margaux — where deep Quaternary gravel soils provide both exceptional drainage and heat regulation. Grapes are harvested manually, vinified with rigorous parcel-by-parcel selection in oak, concrete, and stainless-steel vessels, and aged 18 months in French oak barrels (60–70% new). The resulting wine is the epitome of Margaux elegance: silky tannins, blackcurrant and violet perfume, with remarkable purity and length.