NO, NO AND NO AGAIN!

                                                                                                                                  Gabriel Tari

We have not been here for a thousand years. We are emigrants from the South of Spain, the North of Africa, the North of Europe. Who cares!

We have not been growing wines since the Roman times. We are farmers, maybe peasants, but modern-day peasants and have been for a long time.                                                                                                                

We don’t have an exceptional terroir. Just good land for vineyards of which we have ploughed every inch and which we have revived according to organic principles over the last twenty years. An estate on which the vineyards have been reorganised as it has been over the ages with its natural logic and limits: the river to the south and the garrigue to the north.

No prestigious ruins. But solid buildings, which have witnessed many lives pass and many hard working people.

To the suffocating, so called “constant and loyal usages”, we prefer the nourishing tradition, in our quest - often filled with doubt - for well done work.

The vine doesn’t need to suffer, to give the best of itself. Like us, it needs healthy food, little stress and attentive care.

Not all vintages are exceptional. There are the weather conditions. And the weeds that we will never overcome. And the little beast and larger animals who demand their share.

 Organic farming is not just a matter of doing nothing and watching the weeds grow. It is

also watching the weeds grow. And it is observing in order to try to understand. And acting preventively by using common sense and some simple products, sulphur, copper, herbal preparations, organic insecticides. All on a living soil, nourished by compost.

Modern oenology doesn’t always give a solution. Healthy and ripe grapes, good grape varieties, a modern clean cellar and a lot of attention, barrels and a little sulphur to protect the wines. That should be enough.

                                                                                                Wenny Tari

BUT YES !

In our back the Montagne Noire; Carcassonne and it’s castle and the magnificent Pyrenees on the horizon. The climate is still Mediterranean, but already a bit continental. Our soils are composed of calcareous sandstone and loamy - chalky marls limited in depth by sandstone rocks.

Many grape varieties adapt very well here. By choice we have a lot of them on the estate. Famous ones: Chardonnay, Roussanne, Ugni Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Grenache, Syrah, Viognier, Cinsault, Pinot Noir, and other, unjustly unknown, ones: Egiodola, Fer servadou, Petit Verdot, …

 A richness that allows us to produce a complete range of wines – Vin de Pays and AOC Cabardès – little and grand cuvees, each with its character. A range that gets larger following the new plantations and our inspirations as wine-makers.

 Over the years we have considerably improved our working facilities: a 40 hectare vineyard (173,456 vines), organically grown - certified by Ecocert since 1989 – and a cellar, fully kitted out with modern equipment – pneumatic press, temperature control, destalking equipment and stainless steel tanks with isolation, air-conditioning and a cellar for oak vats. Our estate is NOP certified since 2008.

 The effort made in the vineyard to obtain healthy and well balanced grapes is thus optimised in the cellar for the vinification and maturing of genuine wines.

 At Château Brau a team is at work. In the vineyard you’ll find Léon, Guy, Khadidja …. Gabriel is busy with the elaboration and refining of the wines and ensures that all of this works well together. Wenny receives you at the domaine and travels abroad to present our range of wines.

We have created, over the years, to create a lasting relationship with our clients, developing friendship in a reliable professional environment. And we are intending to continue in the same spirit with our new customers !

 So, we hope to see you soon at your place … or here in the South of France!

 OUR WINES 

The picking is spread over more than a month considering the evolution of the maturity of each grape variety. The grapes are destemmed and their own yeasts assure the fermentation in stainless steel or concrete tanks.

THE WHITE WINES

Nos Vins Blancs, sont des Vin de pays d'Oc, obtenus par un pressurage doux et sont décantés à froid et fermentent doucement à température maîtrisée.

BLANC DE BRAU (Chardonnay and Roussanne), a fresh and fruity wine, refreshing harmony. Blanc de Brau (eng.)

CHARDONNAY a 100% Chardonnay, fermented and matured.

Chardonnay (eng.)  link

THE ROSE WINES 

Our Rosé Wines, a Vin de pays de l’Aude and an AOC Cabardès,

are rosés obtained by short skin contact and controlled temperature

fermentation.

DOMAINE DE BRAU ZE Rosé (MerIot, Egiodola and Cabernet Sauvi­gnon), brings great freshness and rich fruit.  ZE Rosé (eng.)

CHÂTEAU DE BRAU (Syrah, Cabernet Franc), is a rosé for gastronomy, good concentration with a mouthful of mildness and generosity. AOC Rosé (eng.) 

THE Vin de Pays REDS 

For the red wines, there is a limited addition of sulphur and a smooth aeration by racking in order to extract only the very best. A more or less long « infusion » together with many tasting will determine the right moment to press (pneumatic.)

VIN DE PAYS D'OC

 Two wines obtained by controlled maceration, in which the fruit dominates completed with an elegant expression of their grape variety.

MAJELUS  MERLOT big and bold.  Majelus Merlot (eng.)

                                                Cuvee Gabriel

LES COMPAGNONS (Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon), nicely concentrated with fruit and a gentle touch of spice. Les Compagnons  (eng.) 

 VIN DE PAYS CITÉ DE CARCASSONNE

CUVÉE MÉDITATION (Syrah and Egiodola), long maceration with temperature control, then matured in oak casks for 8 months, to give a well tempered and strong wine apt for ageing.

Cuvée Méditation (eng.)

La gamme PURE

In 2006 an ancient wish came true: to develop the sometimes not very well known grape varieties, which have been planted through the years. 

VIN DE PAYS D'OC

VIOGNIER : Aromatic and spicy, fresh and vibrant Viognier (ang.)

PINOT NOIR : Black cherry notes with a full and generus mouthfeel. Pinot Noir (eng.) link

CABERNET FRANC : Ripe black fruit with a mentholy edge. Cabernet Franc (eng.)

CABERNET SAUVIGNON : Intense blackcurrant fruit, complex and full-bodied.

Cabernet Sauvignon (eng.)

SYRAH : Violet-scented, spicy and intense. Syrah (eng.)

VIN DE FRANCE

EGIODOLA : Plum-scented, fleshy and well-structured. Egiodola (eng.)  

PETIT VERDOT: Peppery and floral, refined and complex Petit Verdot (ang.)

FER SERVADOU: Floral, smooth and complex Fer Servadou  (eng.)

LES ROUGES AOC Cabardès 

AOC Cabardès, three wines made from a blend ofMediterranean and Atlantic grape varieties from low yielding vines. After destemming, the grapes of each variety and lot are macerated over a long period before final blending in vats for the different cuvees.

CUVÉE CHÂTEAU (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah), a subtle and strong bouquet with silky tannins and a pleasant softness.  Cuvée Château (eng.)

CUVÉE EXQUISE (Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Syrah) matured in oak casks during 12 month offer a large aromatic palette, a mouthful of generosity and delightful harmony.   Cuvée Exquise (eng.)

LE SUC DE BRAU (Syrah et Cabernet Sauvignon) maturing in new oak casks during 18 months then, bottled, rest in a cool cellar. A dense structure nicely balanced by its freshness, the finish is elegant and delicate. Le Suc (eng.)