Address: 33340 Bégadan

Telephone: +33 (0)5 56 41 50 03

E-mail: info@la-tour-de-by.com

Website: www.la-tour-de-by.com

Château La Tour de By is a very enjoyable wine and in good vintages it produces wonderfully ripe Médoc, characterised by sappy, blackcurrant fruit with an attractive earthy edge. With some age [up to ten years] these flavours become beefier and more roasted. This is unpretentious Médoc at an affordable price and goes an absolute treat with simple steak frites. Second wine Château La Roque de By.

Vineyard/Terrior: 74 hectares on gravel with a hardpan subsoil planted with 65% Caberbet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

Winemaking/Elévage: Traditional with 16 months ageing in barrel, a quarter new each year.

Tasting notes:

• 2013 Mid depth; purple at edge; some graphite and blackcurrant tones; pure and elegant aromatics; palate fresh and pure Cabernet tones; little tightness and will be sappy – but what it lacks in density it makes up for in elegance. [60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot]. Drink 2017-2023. 85-87 UGCB April 2014
• 2012 Deepish; earthy, blackcurrant tones; ripe; juicy and appetizing; palate eqully juicy, ripe and extremely enjoyable; very forward, fruity and attractive. Tasted UGCB April 9, 2013. 87-88
• 2011 Deep and fresh looking; fresh blackcurrant, some stalks and sappy tones; blackcurrant and black cherry on the palate; some minerality; nice grip and sap on the palate; needs a couple of years but good vigorous Médoc. UGCB April 2012 87/100
• 2010 Dense, ripe, blackcurrants, fresh; palate fleshy but with extract and grip. Not bad. Obvious depth and ripe fruit and lots of it. Grip and tannin too. Should meld. 84-86+/100 Tasted 5 April 2011 UGC
• 2009 Deepish; some earthy blackcurrant tones; freshness here; blackcurrant Cabernet and leaf; good Medoc – this doesn’t disappoint; some chew and ripe tannin on the finish. Good stuff 87+/100 [Earlier] Dark, opaque at centre; very soft and sweet ripe nose; lovely and fresh, but also classic La Tour de By. Ripe soft palate, good material and extract. Attractive and supple. Will soften further. Should offer great value. Very good. 88+/100 Tasted March 30th ’10 UGC Primeur tastings.
• 2008 Mid depth, earth purple at edge; some cassis and stalky blackcurrant; some earth and chocolate; slightly leafy palate but with blackcurrants. Has guts but a bit awkward at the moment. Should come round. 84-85/100
• 2007 Mid red; slightly stalky angular quality; lacks richness and concentration. 80-82/100 UGC London tastings Oct ‘10
• 2005 Deep red/black – inky, stalky, blackcurrant nose; plate dense and full of flavour. Pent up. Needs 3 years to open out and will last for 10+. Potentially very good. 87+/100 Jan ’09
• 2000 Med red, some brick red at edge; rose petal, violets and blackcurrants with an earthy note now creeping in; some coffee too; really opening out after a slightly closed phase; supple palate, medium bodied with nice balance. This is spot on now. 87+/100 Nov ’09 [Earlier note] Deepish, some red, ripe Médoc flavours on the nose, quite clean and not over earthy, supple palate but beginning to firm up slightly. Leave for another 2-3 years to fully open. A good bottle of inexpensive Médoc. 85/100 Jan ’09
• 1995 Deep red/brown at edge; roasted and beefy, fully mature, mid-weight wine. Good robust Medoc. 85/100 May ’06