A Night with Brane-Cantenac in Singapore: Rediscovering a Forgotten Vintage

We held a remarkable evening in Singapore last night with Château Brane-Cantenac – and a bottle that challenged everything we thought we knew about “off” vintages.
 
At the heart of the dinner was the 1965 vintage, marking the year of Singapore’s independence. Often regarded as one of the most difficult vintages of the century, bottles are now almost impossible to find – and none of our guests had tasted it before.
 
We were therefore incredibly honoured when Brane-Cantenac shared bottles from Henri Lurton’s personal collection. Fewer than 10 remain, and these had not been opened since 2000.
 
The wine surpassed every expectation: beautifully aromatic, with fruit still showing after more than 60 years. It was a compelling reminder not to write off a vintage – and that wine is a living thing, continually evolving in the bottle.
 
Alongside it, the 1991, 2000 and 2019 vintages marked key moments in the estate’s history and showcased the exceptional quality being produced at this Second Growth château.
 
A fascinating, thought-provoking dinner – and a true privilege to share these wines in Singapore.