The story of Brown Castle
Heritage and know-how
THEChâteau Brown, formerlyChâteau BarrièreIt owes its name to a wealthy wine merchant of Scottish origin:John Lewis BrownIn the 19th century,Mr. Brownpasses on to his son his love for vines, wine and painting.
In 1884, it was the crowning achievement for theChâteau Brownwho wins his first gold medal at theAmsterdam World's FairLittle by little, the Château lost its splendor, and several families succeeded one another at the head of the property until 1990. It was in 1994 that theChâteau Brownregains its luster.
It isBernard Barthe(a businessman in the grain industry) who became the owner of the castle in 1994. Thanks to him, theChâteau BrownIt is reborn and undergoes significant investment in both the vineyards and the winery. Many plots are replanted, and the buildings are renovated and expanded.
The family's goalMauhas always been about making a name for oneself within thePessac-Léognan AOC.Jean Christophe Maupropelled theChâteau Brownin the big leagues, by winning over critics and the international press in particular.
To date, and thanks to a great deal of work,Jean Christophe Mauproduces precise and generous wines that are praised by critics.
An ideal situation
A terroir and grape varieties typical of the Bordeaux region
The Château's vineyard is located on an ancient terroir of the Bordeaux vineyard dating back 2000 years: theNorthern GravesLocated in the heart of the appellationPessac-Léognan, THEChâteau BrownIt covers 60 hectares (31 in one block, 26 planted with red grapes and 5 with white) and produces wines of high quality. For the reds, thecabernet sauvignondominates at 55%, followed by themerlotat 40% and thelittle green dotat 5%. For whites, theSauvignondominates quite significantly with 70% against 30% ofSemillonThe plots ofcabernet sauvignonoccupy a soil of deep gravel while those composed ofmerlotThey occupy clay-gravel soil. For the white wines, the vines are planted on soils composed of clay and sand. The vineyard is planted at a density of 7400 vines per hectare.
An environmental commitment
Wines produced with respect for the environment
For the past few years, theChâteau Brownis committed to respecting the environment. In fact, in 2012, the property joined theSME(Environmental Management System). This integration has raised awareness among all staff, with the aim of significantly reducing the Château's environmental impact. Thanks to all this, theChâteau Brownobtained collective certificationISO 14001Since 2018, theChâteau BrownThe Château has its wines analyzed by the Wine and Health Guide to guarantee to its consumers that certain vintages are guaranteed free of pesticide residues. Subsequently, the Château sought certification.HVE(High Environmental Value), this was achieved, as it was obtained in January 2018. The estate is also concerned about the disappearance of bees. They play a vital role in wine production; in fact, 80% of crops depend on pollination. In order to halt their decline, theChâteau Browndecided to introduce numerous beehives into uncultivated areas.
