Château de Birot is an elegant, 17th-century property with vineyards perched on a high plateau looking down on the Garonne river and across to famous Sauternes. Until a few years ago, it belonged to the renowned Castéja family. They sold it and the new owners have been working hard, updating the estate. In the cellar, they discovered a forgotten batch of château wine from 2007.
Despite its 17 years’ age, it’s still tasting delicious, complex and long. It’s Merlot dominated from estate vineyards in the superior Premières Côtes, with a little of both Cabernets. After 17 years of maturing in the cellars, it has developed some sediment in bottle. A good sign. Stand the bottle upright for a few hours and carefully decant just before serving.
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If you love crisp, dry, appetising whites, you can’t do better than Muscadet. Having lost out in the past to the New World, its winemakers have been working extremely hard of late to win back consumers so quality and value have never been better.
Robert Parker described the Muscadet appellation’s wines as “probably the world’s greatest white wine value”, while wine writer Hugh Johnson said “I can think of nothing more refreshing”. The region is right on the Atlantic coast, so its wines are wonderfully evocative of the sea. You’ll taste that maritime freshness in this delicious white from fourth-generation winemaker Noël Bougrier. For a quintessentially French experience, serve chilled with a bowl of moules frites – mussels and French fries.
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For a time, wines were all about the winemaker. Personalities that liked to take the credit. Big egos and all that. But our winemakers know too well that it's the magic that happens in the vineyard that really counts. That's the way to ensure healthy, ripe grapes of delicious fruit purity. Grapes that express the terroir they come from. Our Sparkling Rosé uses all-Merlot from a prized new vineyard at Château La Clarière, in Bordeaux's Right Bank Castillon.
Currently in the first year of organic conversion, it should gain certification in 2024. Made by the classic Charmat method, the secondary fermentation, to give it the bubble, takes place in tank, not bottle. All sealed with a crown cap too. Easy! It'll bring a sparkle to any gathering.
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So we were delighted when we finally secured access to some nearby white vineyards with incredible fruit that has allowed us to create the prestigious La Clarière Blanc. This dazzling white Bordeaux combines bright, character-filled Sauvignon Blanc and richer, creamier Sauvignon Gris to create an extraordinarily sensuous wine. It has enjoyed all the same lavish, no-expense-spared treatment in the winery usually accorded to the red, and the result is a citrussy, complex, textured wine that is absolutely irresistible. Oak fermented, lees stirred, and then aged in partnew oak barrels, the richness and complexity is reminiscent of the grand wines of Pessac Léognan. Smooth, rich, long and lavish … it's simply magnificent – a very worthy partner to the red. It's a truly fine dining partner that really shines when served with luxury cuisine.
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