Château Brane‑Cantenac, Margaux’s second Grand Cru Classé of 1855, has synchronized the 2024 primeurs launch with the unveiling of a thoroughly modernized vinification and ageing facility. Proprietor Henri Lurton has invested heavily since April 2023 to replace his 19th‑century concrete cuvier with Seguin Moreau oak vats and to retrofit his historic barrel cellar with state‑of‑the‑art climate controls.
100 % wood, zero pumping
Inspired by the R’Pulse remontage system—which, since 2019, has enhanced juice extraction while preserving freshness—Lurton opted to scrap all concrete vats in favor of transparent‑stave oak cuves. The new vessels allow full immersion and gentle turning of the skins without any pumping. Grapes arrive by pneumatic‑suspension trailer, pass through an optical sorter, are lightly crushed on the feet, and are then loaded into mobile vats lifted by forklift.
Parcels, not capacity
Despite the overhaul, Brane‑Cantenac’s total vat capacity remains unchanged. Since 1999, the estate has fine‑tuned its parcellaire approach with stainless steel cuves of 40 to 60 hl in a separate building, enabling blending from over 200 distinct lots. Wines are vinified by gravel‑terrace: top‑sitters on Terrace IV yield the grand vin Brane‑Cantenac; Terraces III and V produce the Baron de Brane; younger vines supply the Margaux de Brane. In parallel, three hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon in Haut‑Médoc now feed a dedicated barrel cellar for two white cuvées.
Revived 18th‑century barrel cellar
The oldest building on the estate—an 18th‑century barrel cellar whose 30‑year‑old frame was shifting—has been entirely renovated. Trials with Taransaud barrels revealed significant temperature disparities across the room, jeopardizing malolactic fermentations. The solution: concealed high‑precision HVAC paired with free‑cooling ventilation, cutting energy use by up to 75 percent. All machinery is tucked between the rafters, and plans are underway to green the exterior wall for added insulation.
2024 vintage: finesse over power
Early tastings of the 2024 Brane‑Cantenac, maturing in the new barrel cellar, have been encouraging. Lurton describes a vintage marked by freshness, balanced alcohol, pronounced fruit, and supple, lingering phenolic ripeness. Not as powerful or structured as 2022 or 2023, but well above the 2013 average. A vigilant mildew‑control regimen and rigorous sorting kept yields at the estate’s normal 46 hl/ha.
Long‑term gains, not price hikes
Although the modernization represents a hefty outlay, Lurton has no plans to raise primeur prices. He expects the investment to pay off over time through reduced operating costs and enhanced wine quality.