Wine Advisor
La Tour de By 2012
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A straightforward cru bourgeois with decent fruit, a touch of herbaceousness and a short finish, the 2012 La Tour de By should keep for 5-6 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The La Tour de By has a nicely composed bouquet with blackberry, wild strawberry and cedar, displaying judicious use of oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, clean black fruit and a composed refined finish that suggests this will be a splendid little wine after bottling. If the price is keen (and it usually is here) then this is well worth seeking out. Tasted April 2013.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An excellent blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, this wine offers attractive value for its superb quality. The wine has a dense ruby/purple color, nice cedary blackcurrant fruit, medium body and surprisingly soft, well-integrated tannins. This sleeper of the vintage should drink nicely for 5-8 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.
