Located in Texas, C.L. Butaud, led by vintners Randy and Brooke Hester, stands out for its commitment to crafting top-quality wines using 100% locally-sourced grapes. With numerous accolades under its belt, C.L. Butaud epitomizes Texas’s emergence as a notable wine region.
Randy, a Houston native, always harbored a passion for winemaking, nurtured during his tenure in the Fine Wines sector of a major distributor. Teaming up with Brooke, an ex-CFO of Patz & Hall winery and current finance director at Garrison Brothers Distillery, they devised a decade-long plan to establish a premium Texas wine brand. In 2006, the couple relocated to Napa Valley, where Randy embarked on his winemaking journey as a 36-year-old apprentice under luminaries like Andy Erickson, Michel Rolland, Mike Hirby, and Helen Keplinger at esteemed vineyards such as Colgin, Caldwell, Realm, and Marciano, thus mastering all facets of the trade before launching his line of Grenache-based wines.
Following multiple Texas harvests while managing their Lightning Wines label, the Hesters returned to Texas in 2017 to launch C.L. Butaud, paying tribute to Randy’s great grandfather, Clet Louis Butaud, affectionately known as Frenchy. Randy employs a blend of minimalistic and experimental techniques, melding his artistic intuition with fermentation science. The label’s premier offering, a robust Tempranillo, holds pride of place among their expanding range, featuring diverse varietals such as Pinot Gris, Ramato, Mourvedre, and innovative blends like Cease & Desist and Blanc de Noir.
Noteworthy endorsements from publications like Texas Monthly, Austin Monthly, Decanter, and VinePair laud C.L. Butaud’s wines for their excellence. Standout releases such as the 2017 Tempranillo and the 2019 Desert Willow Mourvedre have garnered critical acclaim, underscoring the brand’s rising profile.
Embracing wine enthusiasts, the C.L. Butaud Friends & Family Wine Club offers exclusive wines and benefits, including quarterly shipments, customization options, discounted tastings, event invitations, and access to limited-edition library wines.
For aficionados seeking these celebrated wines, C.L. Butaud retails directly through its website and distributes via the Republic National Distributing Company across Texas, ensuring accessibility to discerning consumers.
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