Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Built during the second half of the 18th century for Monsieur de Parouty, an important Bordeaux wine producer, Birot was at the center of an agricultural estate which best hillsides where already planted with vineyards.
This renowned estate was taken over in 1989 by Eric and Hélène Fournier-Castéja, both very familiar with the production of Grand Cru wines in Sauternes and Saint-Emilion. A major renovation program for the vineyards and cellars was undertaken at the time. The vines have been replanted according to the traditional method in Bordeaux by choosing rootstocks and grape varieties most adapted to the terroir.
Since 2010 Arthur, one of their five sons, brings a new impetus to the modernization of the estate and the marketing of its wines.
In most of France, wines are named by their place of origin and not by the type of grape (with the exception of Alsace). Just like a red Burgundy is by law, always made of Pinot noir, a red Bordeaux is a blended wine composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Depending on the laws of the village from which the grapes come, the conditions of the vintage and decisions of the winemaker, the blend can be further supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and in rare cases, Carmenere. So popular and repeated has this mix of grape varieties become worldwide, that the term, Bordeaux Blend, refers to a wine blended in this style, regardless of origin.