Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes 2013 - 1er Cru Classé

Refinement and power in a stylish balance, offering exceptional value for the price. 2023–2043

The château has been owned by the government since 1909 and is home to a vocational high school specializing in agriculture and viticulture. The Republic’s school of viticulture thus cares for its most precious gem, and its renewed technical team has further refined the winemaking process, producing wines that help explain why, in 1855, this vineyard topped the list of Premier Crus Classés. If you have the opportunity, ask to taste the exclusive Muscadelle cuvée, with its unique and magnificent aroma.

Founded by Jean St-Marc du Latourblanche, the estate was donated to the French government in 1909 on the condition that a wine school be established there. This is how the La Tour Blanche School of Viticulture and Oenology came into being. The estate spans approximately 40 hectares, planted primarily with Sémillon (83%), supplemented by Sauvignon Blanc (12%) and Muscadelle (5%). La Tour Blanche wines are renowned for their great richness and smoothness. Stephen Brook: A delicate nose of apricot, with great fruit purity and well-integrated oak. Lively and precise, very sweet, yet with balanced acidity that lends it surprising vibrancy. It is not a particularly voluptuous style, and the fruit is slightly candied, but it is an elegant and delicious wine. Sebastian Payne MW: A Sauternes with understated confidence and a lovely creaminess on the palate. A fairly understated wine, but with good aging potential and immense pleasure. Xavier Rousset MS: Elegant, with very refined fruit and a lovely structure. The oak is perfectly controlled, which is evident in the long and complex finish. Truly very pleasant. 2016–2040

Behind a striking straw-yellow color with green highlights, the delicate, airy bouquet reveals fresh notes of white fruit (white peach, pear), citrus, and stewed apricot. This exuberant and complex fruitiness, consistently marked by candied pear and apricot, unfolds with intensity and elegance on a full-bodied and remarkably balanced palate, invigorated by a long, fresh finish. It embodies all the harmony and distinction of the great Sauternes wines.

One might think that the name of the vineyard comes from the white tower (actually a former dovecote) located on the estate. In reality, it derives from the name of a former owner, Monsieur de Latourblanche, who served as treasurer-general to Louis XVI. Bequeathed to the state in 1909 by the patron Daniel Iffla, known as Osiris, this classified growth is also a viticultural high school, where future professionals find an excellent learning environment (42 hectares of vineyards) to master the subtleties of Botrytis cinerea. Philippe Pelicano is in charge of the winery.

A delicate nose and a lovely tangy quality. A pleasant liveliness despite the sweetness. The wine develops a hint of mandarin. It is refined and long-finishing, with a subtle hint of flint.

This Premier Cru Classé in Bommes, which the former owner, Daniel Iffa, donated to the French government in 1911, is now managed by the Aquitaine Regional Council. Having become a viticulture school, the château has trained such notable figures as oenologist Michel Rolland and winemaker Mark Angeli. For the past twenty years, La Tour Blanche has consistently produced accomplished, harmonious Sauternes wines with noble bouquets. Their very high residual sugar content does not make them heavy at all, because on this terroir, noble rot concentrates the sugars while preserving a light, airy palate. Miguel Aguirre has been managing the estate since 2016; under his leadership, it has officially transitioned to organic viticulture (with the first certified wines expected in 2023). Philippe Pélicano, a former student at the high school, is in charge of winemaking.

The color is straw-yellow, and the nose is rather austere. The palate is dense, fairly tight, with good length and a very nice mouthfeel. A fine achievement for La Tour Blanche in its easily recognizable style.

Golden yellow. Complex, slightly reduced bouquet. Notes of toast, spices, and dried herbs (thyme). Pleasant, precise, and dense on the palate. The wine is creamy, with structure and a hint of bitterness that rounds out the finish. A great wine that isn’t quite ready to reveal its full potential yet, but one that promises a bright future. Lay it down. 2023–2053