On Monday, Henri Lurton opened his doors to the wine-making world of Down Under to host Steve Smith, MW, director of Craggy Range, a winery from the Gimblett Gravels region, located in the eastern part of the North Island of New Zealand! In the framework of our ‘extraordinary’ tasting sessions and on the initiative of Ch'ng Poh Tiong, wine writer and journalist, publisher of The Wine Review, and Steve Smith, we invited neighbors, friends and colleagues to taste 3 different vintages of 6 wines.

The event was truly interesting, just like the one that had been organized with Californians two years before.

Once again, Brane showed that Margaux and Bordeaux don’t rest on their laurels, that their producers are open-minded and not self-centered, that they are perfectly aware of the impact of global competition and that they are always curious about what's happening elsewhere in the world with their same grape varieties...A discreet but often cutting-edge property, Brane is constantly changing and instigating change...The next meeting? What not great Tuscan wines?

The Bordeaux owners in attendance reacted enthusiastically...starting with Henri Lurton, who made the following statement at the end of the tasting:

“Delicious wines…with freshness, a solid structure and a marked vintage effect. Very pure.’

Here is a series of comments from our guests noted right after the tasting:

 

‘Wonderful tasting! Remarkable 2007, great balance, finesse, harmony and complexity.’ Nathalie Schÿler, Château Kirwan, Margaux

‘A tasting of great New Zealand wines in Margaux…A welcome and enriching experience, with a shared objective, the quest for balance, in a different reality.' Jean- Emmanuel Danjoy, Château Clerc Milon-Rothschild

‘A unique opportunity to taste an impressive sampling of red wines from New Zealand. Some of them are fine, balanced, racy and elegant wines.’ Christophe Labenne, Château Poujeaux

‘Great red Bordeaux grapes, adapted to New Zealand’s territory by talented wine-makers. A fantastic idea that should be repeated as soon as possible! Thanks, Henri.’ Vincent Priou, Château Beauregard

‘An impressive tasting where we discovered the Cabernets and gravel of Gimblett in New Zealand which will delight connoisseurs.’ Anne Cuvelier, Château Léoville Poyferré

‘Wine-makers with character from New Zealand who showcase the country’s original nature by producing wines characterized by unexpected complexity and subtlety. Their wines are not competitors but rather ambassadors, as they express the classical academic bases which are harmony and balance and yet don't get caught up in excess to give an illusion of quality. Conclusion – Just like their rugby, they defend life’s core values!’ Jean Claude Berrouet, Château Pétrus

‘A fabulous tasting of Kiwi wines…Elegance, balance, wonderfully pleasant wines…We’re looking forward to sharing our own wines Down Under!’ Philippe Blanc, Château Beychevelle

‘We loved this tasting featuring this region in New Zealand. It was interesting to note that terroir is just as important there and that all the vintages are different. I found the 2000 wines to be fresh and well balanced. We had a wonderful time and we look forward to enjoying our next bottle of Gimblett Gravels!'  Lilian Barton-Sartorius, Château Léoville Barton

The Bordeaux attendees’ three favorite wines in the district of Gimblett Gravels

Number 1: 2009 CRAGGY RANGE ‘SOPHIA’

Number 2: 2007 CRAGGY RANGE ‘THE QUARRY’

Number 3: CHURCH ROAD ‘TOM’ 2007 AND CRAGGY RANGE 'SOPHIA' 2007

 

In attendance for this journey to the other side of the globe:

 

Domaines Rothschild: Mr. Georges Alnot and Mr. Yann Buchwalter

Château Palmer: Thomas Duroux

Château Léoville Barton: Lilian Barton

Château Langoa Barton: Michel Sartorius

Château Carbonnieux: Eric Perrin

Château Léoville Poyferré: Anne Cuvelier

Château Léoville LasCases: Tamara McIntosh

Château La Conseillante: Bertrand Nicolas

Château Coutet: Aline Baly

Château Dauzac: Christine Lurton

Château Giscours: Alexander Van Beeck

Château La Tour de Bessan: Marie-Laure Lurton

Château Poujeaux: Christophe Labenne

Château Beauregard: Vincent Priou

Château Beychevelle: Philippe Blanc

Château d’Angludet: Allan Sichel

Château Pichon Baron, Petit Village, Suduiraut etc.: Christian Seely

Château Clerc Milon-Rothschild: Jean Emmanuel Danjoy

Château Calon-Ségur: Vincent Millet

Château Lafon Rochet: Mr. Basile Tesseron and Mr. Lucas Leclerc

Château Kirwan: Nathalie Schyler

Château Pétrus: Mr. Berrouet

Château Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande: Gildas d’Olone

Château d’Angludet: Allan Sichel

Eric Boissenot, oenologist

Mr Viaud, oenologist (Michel Rolland’s lab)

Laurent Ehrmann, merchant, Barrière Frères

Yann Jestin, broker

Philippe Chatonnet,  Université de Bordeaux

 Press members: Jane Anson, Decanter.com (press)

Thibault Reichell and Alain Aviotte, Planet Vins et Spiritueux (press)

Guy Charneau, Tast (press)

Captions:

Steve Smith, from Craggy Range and Henri Lurton, owner of Brane-Cantenac

Ch'ng Poh Tiong, wine writer and publisher of the Wine Review

Christophe Capdeville, Technical Director at Brane serving Craggy Range

Florent Cillero, our cellar manager, serving Craggy Range

Monique Cocureau and Maria Martinez Ojeda serving Tom

Ch'ng Poh Tiong and Steve Smith surrounding Jean Claude Berrouet from Pétrus

Jane Anson, Decanter.com, taking notes

Docteur Nicolas, La Conseillante and Eric Perrin, Carbonnieux

Alain Aviotte, journalist, Michel Tesseron, Lafon Rochet and Thibault Reichell, Planet Vins

Lilian Barton, Léoville Barton and Alexander Van Beech, Giscours and DuTertre

Vincent Millet, Calon Ségur, Paul Chatonnet, Université de Bordeaux and Eric Boissenot, oenologist

 Nathalie Schuler, Kirwan, and Marie Laure Lurton, la Tour de Bessan

Georges Alnot, Domaines Rothschild, Mr. Viaud, oenologist (Michel Rolland Lab) and Yann Buchwalter, Clark

Christine Lurton Dauzac and Henri Lurton ...first cousins!

Nathalie Schyler and Guy Charneau, Tast

Laurent Ehrmann, Barrière Frères

Jean Emmanuel Danjoy, Clerc Milon Rothschild

Steve Smith and Gildas D'Olone from Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Philippe Blanc from Beychevelle, and Nathalie Schyler, Kirwan...