Wine Advisor
La Tour de By 2010
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted twice, the Tour de By is a little “smudged” on the nose when so many other Medocs are showing good definition. The palate is better with firm tannins on the entry, quite powdery in texture and lacking a little tension on the finish. Tasted April 2011.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An elegant, straightforward style of wine with some earthy, subtle herbaceousness, this effort exhibits medium body, decent red and black currant fruit, and a soft finish. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.
About the Producer
The Chateau La Tour de By is a 94-hectare family wine estate present on a ridge in Girondines, between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The winery has a long history in Medoc that goes back to almost the 16th century and is one of the oldest properties of the region. The estate is named so because the vineyards are placed in the de By appellation. The first name tells about the large tower on their property that is also pictured on the wine labels. The chateau in its current form was constructed in 1876. The Pages family purchased the property in 1965, and in 1999, Marc Pages became the sole owner of the wine estate. It is now managed by Marc Pagès’ grandsons: Frédéric Le Clerc as Managing Director and Benjamin Richer de Forges as Commercial Director. Their vineyards are around 40 years old, and some also date back to a hundred years old. The terroir features gravel soils which along with a unique microclimate makes the region perfect for cultivating vines. The main grapes grown in their vineyards are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The best grapes are processed to make their famous red and white wines. Harvesting takes place through machines, and the wines are fermented under controlled temperatures for 3 to 5 weeks. The wines are allowed to age in half-buried French oak barrels. Since the 80s, ecological and sustainable methods are being used to preserve the vines, to prevent diseases, and to minimize the use of chemicals.