Tour Blanche

History of Château La Tour Blanche

The history of Château La Tour Blanche dates back to the 17th century when Jean Saint Marc du Latourblanche, clerk at the Bordeaux Parliament, became owner of the estate and gave his name to the château. Thanks to his financial resources, he transformed the former Carthusian monastery into a more imposing residence and developed the vineyard. He also built a tower to justify the estate's name, La Tour Blanche, which would be retained through the centuries.

The modern history of the estate truly begins with Frederick Focke, a German merchant who acquired the property in the 19th century. Focke introduced the technique of late harvest, already practised in Germany, thus helping to revolutionise the production of sweet wines in Sauternes. Thanks to his expertise, he convinced other producers in the region to adopt this method, marking a turning point in the appellation's history.

In 1855, during the famous Bordeaux Wine Classification, Château La Tour Blanche was classified as Premier Grand Cru of Sauternes, just behind the legendary Château d'Yquem. Unfortunately, Focke would not live to savour this success, as he died that same year. Later, in 1907, Daniel Iffla, nicknamed Osiris, bequeathed the estate to the French State on the condition that a viticulture school be established there. This wish was fulfilled in 1911, and since then, the estate has trained several generations of winegrowers while maintaining the production of its exceptional wines.

Today, Château La Tour Blanche belongs to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and continues to be a model estate, combining traditional expertise with modern innovations.

The 2020, 2001 and 2009 vintages of Château La Tour Blanche have been awarded a score of 96/100 by Robert Parker, underlining the finesse and elegance of this Sauternes Grand Cru Classé.

Terroirs and Vines of Château La Tour Blanche

The exceptional terroir of Château La Tour Blanche spans approximately 40 hectares dedicated to sweet wine production. Located on a ridge that rises 60 metres above sea level, the estate benefits from ideal sun exposure, which promotes optimal grape ripeness. The proximity to the Ciron and Garonne rivers creates perfect conditions for the development of botrytis cinerea, also known as "noble rot", an essential element in the production of Sauternes wines.

The estate's soil is primarily composed of gravel over a clay-limestone subsoil, a mixture that allows natural drainage while retaining some freshness in the vine roots. This unique terroir gives Château La Tour Blanche wines their distinctive character, both rich and elegant.

The estate's grape varieties reflect the traditional varieties of the Sauternes appellation: 83% Sémillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle. Sémillon, the dominant variety, brings structure and richness to the wines, while Sauvignon Blanc offers lovely freshness and subtle aromas. Finally, Muscadelle adds an exotic and spicy aromatic touch, contributing to the wine's complexity.

Vinification at Château La Tour Blanche

The production of Château La Tour Blanche wines relies on ancestral expertise combined with modern vinification techniques. The harvest is done manually through successive selections. This delicate process consists of selecting only grapes that have reached an optimal level of botrytisation, a key step for the concentration of sugars and aromas.

The grapes are then carefully pressed, and the musts undergo controlled fermentation to preserve the perfect balance between acidity and sugar richness. This fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and oak barrels, ensuring optimal temperature control.

The ageing of Château La Tour Blanche wines lasts between 16 and 18 months in new Bordeaux barrels for part of the wine, which brings fine tannic structure and beautiful aromatic complexity. The expertise of the estate team is evident at every step, from vine to bottle, ensuring consistent and high quality.

The cuvées of Château La Tour Blanche

Château La Tour Blanche offers several sweet wine cuvées, each reflecting the estate's excellence while offering unique characteristics. Here is an overview of the main cuvées:

Château La Tour Blanche - 1er Grand Cru Classé 1855  

This emblematic cuvée embodies the estate's style, with superb concentration of candied fruits, honey and sweet spices. The wine has incredible richness, balanced by lovely freshness that extends the finish. Each vintage reveals a harmonious marriage between power and finesse, with complex aromas and great persistence on the palate. This wine is ideal for special occasions or to be kept in the cellar, where it will improve with time.

Les Charmilles de La Tour Blanche  

Second wine of the estate, Les Charmilles de La Tour Blanche is made from the same grape varieties as its elder sibling but offers a lighter and more accessible style. This wine stands out for its lighter aromatic palette and moderate sweetness, making it perfect for more informal tastings. With its fresh fruit aromas and liveliness, it can be enjoyed young and chilled, to accompany aperitifs or light desserts.

Brumes de La Tour Blanche  

A lighter and more refreshing cuvée, Brumes de La Tour Blanche is characterised by its aromatic purity and great freshness. Less concentrated than the estate's other wines, it comes from manual selections and is vinified in stainless steel tanks. This wine offers lovely structure while remaining easy to drink, with subtle exotic fruit aromas and a lively finish. It is perfect for aperitifs or to accompany light dishes.

The best vintages of Sauternes and Barsac, two prestigious Bordeaux appellations, include exceptional years such as 1945, 1947, 1949, 1955, 1959, and 1967, recognised for their finesse and complexity. Among more recent vintages, notable years include 1975, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, as well as the legendary 2001. Sweet wine enthusiasts will also appreciate the years 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2013. Finally, the excellent climatic conditions of recent decades have produced memorable vintages in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. These wines offer unique aromatic richness and remarkable ageing potential.

Discover the exceptional treasures of the Grands Crus Classés of Sauternes and Barsac, where each estate tells a unique story of expertise and excellence. The prestigious Château d'Yquem, Premier Grand Cru Supérieur, embodies the quintessence of Sauternes. Among the Premiers Grands Crus Classés, explore the subtleties of Château Climens and Château Coutet in Barsac, as well as the wonders of Château Guiraud, Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Château La Tour Blanche, Château Rabaud-Promis, Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Château Rieussec, Château Sigalas-Rabaud, and Château Suduiraut in Sauternes. Each estate invites you to dive into the enchanting world of dessert wines, combining aromatic richness, finesse, and elegance, for an unforgettable sensory experience.

Château La Tour Blanche is an essential reference in the world of Sauternes sweet wines. Thanks to its exceptional terroir, commitment to quality, and rich history, the estate continues to produce wines of rare elegance and complexity. Whether through its emblematic cuvée, Château La Tour Blanche Premier Grand Cru Classé, or its more accessible cuvées like Les Charmilles and Brumes, each wine reflects the estate's unique expertise.