Sixth in line out of eleven children, Marie-Laure is one of Lucien Lurton’s daughters. Her father who inherited Château Brane-Cantenac in 1954 expanded his wine empire considerably as in 1992 he was the owner of 11 châteaux in Bordeaux.

After completing her degree in winemaking in 1984 in Bordeaux, Marie-Laure was more than ever convinced of her passion for wine production. Her final thesis was on red wine vinification: the first part dealt with Châteauneuf du Pape where she did a vintage at Château Fortia and the second part dealt with polyphenols in Bordeaux grape varieties after carrying out research in the laboratory of Professor Yves Glories.
Armed with her initial professional experience gleaned from the family properties in Bordeaux at Château de Camarsac and Château de Villegeorge, the young enologist went to California for three months where she worked in the cellars of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, St Helena, Napa Valley. On her return she was in charge of the 1985 vintage at Châteaux Brane-Canteanc, Durfort Vivens, Desmirail etc.
From 1986 to 1990 she helped her father with the wine production of all the Medoc properties in the family portfolio, including Château Duplessis. She was responsible for the wines from harvest to the bottling.
In 1992 her father withdrew from active work and passed his châteaux on to his children. It was natural for Marie-Laure to take over the direction of three of them: Château de Villegeorge, Château La Tour de Bessan and Château Duplessis.
Since then she devotes all her time and her energy to these three growths in order to satisfy her very demanding standards, supported by a highly competent team at every stage of production.