Château de Birazel
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Château de Birazel is a 17-hectare winegrowing estate in Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille, in organic conversion since 2023. It produces Bordeaux appellation wines from a diverse range of grape varieties, using a modern cellar for its vinifications.
Identity
Château de Birazel is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille, in the Gironde department. It is owned by Paul and Nicole Boeckx.
History and Philosophy
The estate was acquired by its current owners in 2017. Their first harvest took place in 2020, a year that also saw the inauguration of a new cellar. Château de Birazel began its conversion to organic viticulture in 2023.
Appellations
The estate produces wines under the Bordeaux appellation.
Practical Information
Château de Birazel is open for cellar-door sales and also offers tastings. For further details, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 7 84 23 58 22 or by email at info@chateaudebirazel.fr. The postal address is 1, au Château, 33190 Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille.
Find out more
Official estate websiteFrequently asked questions
- Where is Château de Birazel located and who are the owners?
- Château de Birazel is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille, in the Gironde department. The property is owned and managed by Paul and Nicole Boeckx. They acquired the estate in 2017 and harvested their first vintage in 2020, the year a new cellar was opened. The estate has been actively engaged in organic conversion since 2023.
- What is the vineyard composition at Château de Birazel?
- The vineyard at Château de Birazel covers an area of 17 hectares, characterised by gravel and clay soils. The vines range in age from 20 to 50 years. The plantings are diverse, featuring red grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Carménère. For white wines, the estate cultivates Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sauvignon Gris.
- What are the appellations and flagship cuvées of Château de Birazel?
- Château de Birazel primarily produces wines under the Bordeaux appellation. Notable flagship cuvées include Cuvée Auguste, a Merlot-dominant red wine from old vines. Cuvée Blanc de Noirs, classified as Vin de France, is a white wine made exclusively from Merlot. Cuvée Le Blanc is a blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, also under the AOC Bordeaux. Special 100% Sauvignon Blanc cuvées are also produced, featuring various ageing vessels (barrels, amphorae, egg-shaped vats).
- What vinification and ageing methods are used at Château de Birazel?
- Château de Birazel features a modern cellar built in 2020, equipped with various vessels for vinification and ageing. The estate utilises barrels, foudres (for 10% of the wines), concrete vats, stainless steel tanks, clay amphorae, and "diamond" vats. These facilities allow ageing techniques to be tailored precisely to each cuvée, such as ageing in new oak barrels or amphorae for selected bottlings.
The Vineyard (Terroir)
The vineyard covers 17 hectares, characterised by gravel and clay soils. The vines range in age from 20 to 50 years. The grape varieties include red cultivars such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Carménère, alongside white varieties such as Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sauvignon Gris. Several original Merlot plots are thirty years old and account for 2 hectares of the vineyard.
Flagship Cuvées
Cuvée Auguste
This red cuvée, crafted from old vines in the Bordeaux appellation, is predominantly made from Merlot (70%). Its ageing combines new oak barrels (75%) and amphorae (15%).
Cuvée Blanc de Noirs
This white wine is crafted entirely from Merlot grown on clay and sand soils. It is classified as Vin de France.
Cuvée Le Blanc
Crafted from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, this cuvée comes from 15-year-old west-facing vines on sandy-clay soils. It is in conversion to organic farming and is marketed under the AOC Bordeaux.
Special Cuvées
The estate offers dedicated cuvées made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on clay and gravel soils. Among them, Cuvée Barrique is aged for 9 months in new 500-litre barrels. Cuvée Amphore, also unfined and unfiltered, is aged for 9 months in small clay amphorae. A Cuvée Diamant is aged on fine lees in egg-shaped vats.
Vinification and Ageing
Built in 2020, the cellar is equipped with barrels, foudres (for 10% of the ageing), concrete vats, stainless steel tanks, clay amphorae, and "diamond" vats.
- Appellations
- Bordeaux, Vin de France
- Commune
- Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille
- Wine region
- Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur
- Owner
- Paul et Nicole Boeckx
- Surface area
- 17 ha
- Certifications
- Bio
- Grape varieties
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carménère, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris
Practical information
- Address
- 1, au Château, 33190 Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille
- Phone
- +33 7 84 23 58 22
- Contact form
- Contact the estate