The history of Barton & Guestier is passionate and rich. Almost three centuries of wines, labels, markets, people and passion...

We are pleased to share some fragments of the B&G company correspondence dating back to the 18th and 19th century, sourced from the "Saga des Barton" written by Mr. Anthony Barton and Mr. Claude Petit-Castelli in 1991.

 > Thomas Barton "Harvest Report"

July 1771
The vines are exceptional for the season. No grape fell, which is a miracle because of the frost we had. In Saint-Seurin, caterpillars occasioned a lot of damage. They make the young grapes fall. A black worm dries the leaves. Luckily none of these disasters showed up in our parish, or at Lafite, or Brane Mouton or Calon. Only Latour has some damage, but without importance. In Saint Julien the caterpillars occasioned a lot of damage in some places and amazingly none at all at other places. Gruaud lost a lot of grapes. The April frost made that in Graves there will be very few wine. In the white wine country (Entre-deux-Mers), the crop will be very small.

August 1771
The sunny weather continues, without any rain. However, we could use a lot of it, to improve the maturity of the grapes. The lack of rain makes the colour change very slowly. With only two or three days of rain, they would become black immediately. People here estimate the harvest to start on September 22 or 23 at the latest. All think that the Graves and Cantenac will lose half or even two third of their crop due to the frost. The remaining grapes are small, do not change colour and they are hungry. This is not the case for Lafite, Margaux, Latour or at my place* where everything goes well. The grapes are very healthy and look beautiful.

October, 25 1771 (after the harvest)
Most of the properties started the harvest too early. Only Lafite, Latour, Madame Brame, me and two or three others here waited until September 27. Because of that all the others spoilt the quality of their wines, in Saint Estephe the early harvest led to green, poor and thin wines.
At this moment prices are increasing. The wines of Latour have been sold at a higher price than ever before in the past. But they are of good quality. The wines of Lafite are even better. My wines are excellent and all sold in advance, thanks to the late harvest.

* "My place" is referring to Château Le Boscq that features today among the great classics of the Saint-Estèphe appellation. Thomas Barton took the tenancy at Château Le Boscq in 1749. For more than 30 years he dedicated his life to making wine of a quality repeatedly recognised, sometimes even at Cru Classé level, within the different classifications established by the courtiers and négociants in Bordeaux.

 > Letter dated August 1, 1802 from Mr. Hugh Barton and Mr. Daniel Guestier to their customers

In consequence of the incertain situation affairs have been in those few years past, the business of our house has been conducted in Bordeaux by M. Daniel Guestier and in his name and of that of Hugh Barton in England, Ireland in order to secure our properties in both countries, as this precaution is no longer necessary, we beg leave to inform you our firm from this day will be that of Barton and Guestier. At foot you have our respective signatures. We remain very sincerely.

 > Letter dated February 11, 1852 from Mr. Nathaniel Barton to the customers of B&G

Dear Sirs,
The results of the harvest of last year, give us the occasion to renew our correspondance.
According our observations during the picking at the properties of Latour, Margaux, Léoville and Langoa, we expected the wines of the 1851 vintage to be of good quality. We had different occasions to taste the wines in the meanwhile and our opinion is now confirmed.
For export, and for the moment, we recommend you only the wines of 1848. Samples are available for tasting.
We hope to have the privilege of your orders...

 > Internal correspondance 1857 from Nathaniel Barton to his sun Bertram (just starting in the business)

"...You will have to do business dinners. They are important. I will grant you 5 to 10 pounds for each dinner. Do not invite more than 3 to 4 people and it is probably not useful to invite the ladies who increase cost significantly. However you could organise small parties from time to time..."

Discover more about the Guestier family in the next issue of Assemblage.