2015 Chateau de Birot Blanc de Birot Bordeaux 750 ml

Bordeaux Blanc from 1er Grand Cru Chateau Canon Owners

Winemaker Arthur Fournier’s Bordeaux Château de Birot 2015 Bordeaux Blanc from the gorgeous 37-hectare estate overlooking the Garonne is a “tangy and delicious” blend of Sauvignon Blanc and fleshy Semillon. It nails the value sweet spot, packing 91 points from James Suckling into an under-$20 bottle — a stunning mark of value. Before Birot, the Fourniers owned Saint-Émilion’s Premier Grand Cru Classé Château Canon, which Robert Parker noted had “attained a quality that equals that of the St. Émilions like Cheval Blanc and Ausone” at “nowhere near these other wines in price.” That is the definition of value, and that is the tradition they brought to Birot. Crisp and citrusy, this Wine Access exclusive is priced to be taken home, and enjoyed, without a moment’s hesitation. The best $20 Bordeaux Blanc you’ll try this year, just 125 cases — don’t delay.

Arthur Fournier was fortunate. By the time he took over winemaking duties at Château de Birot from his father Eric in 2010, his parents had been producing stunningly high-value wines on the Birot’s elegant plateau for twenty-one years. They had replanted, selecting rootstocks and cépages based on their suitability to Birot’s soils, and renovated the winery and cellar at the two-century-old estate. Arthur’s job was to stay the course: to keep Birot producing to the level of its outstanding terroir, and beyond its modest price.

Judging by the fruits Birot’s recent vintages, Fournier fils, one of five, is doing his family proud. And we’ve been the darlings of the importer, which gave Wine Access dibs on the first cases to arrive Stateside. At this price, we’ll be asking for more in no time.