Chateau La Tour de By Medoc Bordeaux, Complete Guide

La Tour de By

Learn everything about Chateau La Tour de By, Medoc with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau La Tour de By History, Overview

Chateau La Tour de By has a long history in the Medoc that can be traced back to the 1700s as a vineyard. However, the creation of the estate dates back much further than that, as it was founded all the way back in 1599, making it one of the oldest properties in the Medoc. Interestingly, the tower in the estate’s name is actually a lighthouse, constructed in 1611.

At the time, it was known as La Roque de By. The de By in the name comes from the location of their vines, which are placed in the de By sector of the appellation. The first part of the name refers to the large, picturesque lighthouse that graces the property, which can be seen on the labels. The picturesque chateau was constructed later, in about 1876.

The modern era for Chateau La Tour de By begins in 1965, when the Pages family, along with two other families, the Lapalue and Cailloux families, purchased the Left Bank property. In 1999, the Pages family, headed by Marc Pages purchased the remaining two-thirds of Chateau La Tour de By and became the sole owner.

Chateau La Tour de By Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The large, 74-hectare vineyard of Chateau La Tour de By is planted with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The terroir is typical of that part of the region with its gravel-based soils. The vines are old at 40 years of age.

The vineyard, located close to the Gironde estuary is planted to a vine density that ranges from 5,500 vines per hectare to 10,000 vines per hectare, depending on the parcel. There is one unique feature to the vineyards of La Tour de By, they occupy the highest elevation from the north of Pauillac to above the St. Estephe appellation.

While the average vine age here is impressive, at close to 40 years, they also have some very old vines that are more than 100 years of age! The vineyards are machine harvested.

The best vintages of Chateau La Tour de By are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

To produce the wine of Chateau La Tour de By, vinification takes place in a combination of temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks and oak, wood vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat.

The wine is aged in 30% new, French oak barrels for an average of 16 months. There is a second wine, La Roque de By.

The estate also makes a special, high-end wine, Cuvee Exception Hommage Marc Pages which comes from the estate’s oldest vines and is most often produced from a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Production is on average close to 40,000 cases of Chateau La Tour de By per vintage.

In addition, they also produce La Tour de By Cuvée Petit Verdot, a tiny 50 case production made as the name implies entirely from Petit Verdot.

When to Drink Chateau La Tour de By, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau La Tour de By can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau La Tour de By is usually better with at least 1-3 years of bottle age.

Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau La Tour de By offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 2-9 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau La Tour de By with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau La Tour de By is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau La Tour de By is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau La Tour de By is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta as well as cheese.

www.latourdeby.fr

Château La Tour de By Wine Tasting Notes

22 Vintages 72,340 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
92
A touch of oak, smoke, black pit fruits, flowers, and licorice form the core here. The wine is soft, round, medium-bodied, and fruity, with an open style, and plenty of dark red berries on the palate and finish, this is going to be easy to enjoy on release. The wine is produced from a parcel selection. Drink from 2025-2038. 91-93 Pts.

A touch of oak, smoke, black pit fruits, flowers, and licorice form the core here. The wine is soft, round, medium-bodied, and fruity, with an open style, and plenty of dark red berries on the palate and finish, this is going to be easy to enjoy on release. The wine is produced from a parcel selection. Drink from 2025-2038. 91-93 Pts.

1,586 Views   Tasted
2022
90
Round, forward, and fruity, with loads of sweet, dark red pit fruits, savory herbs, flowers, hints of spice, and licorice that come in at the end, this will be quite nice to enjoy on release. Drink from 2025-2037. 89-91 Pts.

Round, forward, and fruity, with loads of sweet, dark red pit fruits, savory herbs, flowers, hints of spice, and licorice that come in at the end, this will be quite nice to enjoy on release. Drink from 2025-2037. 89-91 Pts.

2,078 Views   Tasted
2021
89
Black cherries, peppery currants and espresso with a touch of mint, open the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, forward, fresh and easy going, with a sweet, supple, almost creamy, though light red berry finish. Drink from 2024-2034.

Black cherries, peppery currants and espresso with a touch of mint, open the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, forward, fresh and easy going, with a sweet, supple, almost creamy, though light red berry finish. Drink from 2024-2034.

128 Views   Tasted
Soft and sweet with a ripe, cherry and currant profile. The wine is medium-bodied, polished and fruity. Drink from 2023-2028. 87-89

Soft and sweet with a ripe, cherry and currant profile. The wine is medium-bodied, polished and fruity. Drink from 2023-2028. 87-89

1,261 Views   Tasted
2021
86
Forward, early-drinking, medium-bodied, peppery-cherry filled wine with a shot of menthol in the endnote that you can enjoy on release. Drink from 2023-2028. 85-87

Forward, early-drinking, medium-bodied, peppery-cherry filled wine with a shot of menthol in the endnote that you can enjoy on release. Drink from 2023-2028. 85-87

1,414 Views   Tasted
2020
91
With a floral edge to the sweet, red fruits, the medium-bodied wine is round, creamy and vibrant in the mid-palate and in the red currant packed finish. Drink from 2024-2028.

With a floral edge to the sweet, red fruits, the medium-bodied wine is round, creamy and vibrant in the mid-palate and in the red currant packed finish. Drink from 2024-2028.

914 Views   Tasted
2020
90
Cherries, black currants, spice, licorice, and espresso form the core of the nose, and palate here. The wine provides a nice, chewy blast of dark red fruits, and chocolate in the finish. Drink from 2024-2036.

Cherries, black currants, spice, licorice, and espresso form the core of the nose, and palate here. The wine provides a nice, chewy blast of dark red fruits, and chocolate in the finish. Drink from 2024-2036.

329 Views   Tasted
Floral, with fresh dark red fruits, espresso and chocolate raspberry cake notes, the wine is soft, round and polished, with ample, sweet raspberries and plums in the juicy finish. You can enjoy this in its youth. 89-91 Pts

Floral, with fresh dark red fruits, espresso and chocolate raspberry cake notes, the wine is soft, round and polished, with ample, sweet raspberries and plums in the juicy finish. You can enjoy this in its youth. 89-91 Pts

1,895 Views   Tasted
2020
90
The savory accented red fruits in the nose give way to the earthy, bright, chewy, dusty-edged, sweet red fruits in the medium-bodied palate. This should be easy to enjoy on release, or with just a year or two in the bottle. Drink from 2024-2036.

The savory accented red fruits in the nose give way to the earthy, bright, chewy, dusty-edged, sweet red fruits in the medium-bodied palate. This should be easy to enjoy on release, or with just a year or two in the bottle. Drink from 2024-2036.

689 Views   Tasted
2019
91
Generous, round, lush and filled with ripe, dark red fruits and cassis, the wine is easy to taste, like and enjoy due to its user friendly, forward style. 90-92 Pts

Generous, round, lush and filled with ripe, dark red fruits and cassis, the wine is easy to taste, like and enjoy due to its user friendly, forward style. 90-92 Pts

2,920 Views   Tasted
2019
90
With a deep color, the wine shows off its black cherry, dark cocoa, espresso and black plum nose right off the bat. On the palate the wine is soft, round, forward, polished and fruity with layers of ripe, dark, chewy red berries in the finish. Drink from 2022-2034.

With a deep color, the wine shows off its black cherry, dark cocoa, espresso and black plum nose right off the bat. On the palate the wine is soft, round, forward, polished and fruity with layers of ripe, dark, chewy red berries in the finish. Drink from 2022-2034.

2,106 Views   Tasted
Ripe, round, fresh and fruity, this medium-bodied, forward, fruit-oriented wine should be great on release, due to all of its ripe, sweet, red berry fruits. 89-91 Pts

Ripe, round, fresh and fruity, this medium-bodied, forward, fruit-oriented wine should be great on release, due to all of its ripe, sweet, red berry fruits. 89-91 Pts

3,506 Views   Tasted
2018
89
Easy drinking blast of sweet , ripe, juicy cassis, earth, herbs and spice on the nose and on your palate that is already fun to have in your glass.

Easy drinking blast of sweet , ripe, juicy cassis, earth, herbs and spice on the nose and on your palate that is already fun to have in your glass.

2,014 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, round, forward, ripe and fruity, with an earthy, spicy, charming, sweet red berry finish. 88-90 Pts

Medium bodied, round, forward, ripe and fruity, with an earthy, spicy, charming, sweet red berry finish. 88-90 Pts

4,989 Views   Tasted
2017
87
Medium bodied, succulent, in your face and easy to understand, this wine has a vibrant, spicy personality. Drink it early.

Medium bodied, succulent, in your face and easy to understand, this wine has a vibrant, spicy personality. Drink it early.

2,902 Views   Tasted
2016
88
Medium-bodied, fully developed, and already easy to drink, this round, lush, soft, dark cherry, cocoa, and earthy-tasting wine will be best over the next few years. Drink from 2022-2026.

Medium-bodied, fully developed, and already easy to drink, this round, lush, soft, dark cherry, cocoa, and earthy-tasting wine will be best over the next few years. Drink from 2022-2026.

2,849 Views   Tasted
Forward, fresh and spicy, this wine is well made with a tannic, red pit fruit in the center. This should be fun to drink early. It's perfect for a restaurant.

Forward, fresh and spicy, this wine is well made with a tannic, red pit fruit in the center. This should be fun to drink early. It's perfect for a restaurant.

4,030 Views   Tasted
2016
89
Using 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, this wine is a parcel selection. It is tannic and classic in style with a peppery, cassis fruit center but it needs time for the cassis to soften and come around.

Using 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, this wine is a parcel selection. It is tannic and classic in style with a peppery, cassis fruit center but it needs time for the cassis to soften and come around.

1,674 Views   Tasted
2015
87
It is not complicated, but it is well made, with soft textures, ample fruit and a clean finish. This should be fun to drink early. It's perfect for a restaurant. 86 - 88 Pts

It is not complicated, but it is well made, with soft textures, ample fruit and a clean finish. This should be fun to drink early. It's perfect for a restaurant. 86 - 88 Pts

2,051 Views   Tasted
2014
87
Easy going, early drinking, medium bodied wine with freshness, crisp , dried plums and cherry notes.

Easy going, early drinking, medium bodied wine with freshness, crisp , dried plums and cherry notes.

2,214 Views   Tasted
2013
82
Light, tart, red fruits are most of what you find here. This is not a wine to hold as it requires early consumption. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.

Light, tart, red fruits are most of what you find here. This is not a wine to hold as it requires early consumption. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.

2,193 Views   Tasted
2012
86
With a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, the medium bodied wine is focused on red plums and wild strawberries with some oak in the finish.

With a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, the medium bodied wine is focused on red plums and wild strawberries with some oak in the finish.

2,007 Views   Tasted
Tart and lean in this difficult vintage, the wine is best enjoyed in its youth. 83-86 Pts

Tart and lean in this difficult vintage, the wine is best enjoyed in its youth. 83-86 Pts

3,279 Views   Tasted
2011
86
Medium bodied, easy going, not very complex, but without major faults in this difficult vintage, the wine leaves you with a black raspberry, herb and oaky finish.

Medium bodied, easy going, not very complex, but without major faults in this difficult vintage, the wine leaves you with a black raspberry, herb and oaky finish.

4,182 Views   Tasted
2010
88
The potential seems better on the nose, than on the palate with its black raspberry and earthy, tobacco filled aromatics. Tanniic with some rusticity and dryness in the finsh

The potential seems better on the nose, than on the palate with its black raspberry and earthy, tobacco filled aromatics. Tanniic with some rusticity and dryness in the finsh

4,200 Views   Tasted
2009
87
Forward, fun value priced Bordeaux wine with licorice, black cherry and earth with an open, round styled personality. Form a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

Forward, fun value priced Bordeaux wine with licorice, black cherry and earth with an open, round styled personality. Form a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

5,662 Views   Tasted
2008
85
More red than black fruit with a touch of earth in the nose. This medium bodied, soft, wine should be enjoyed young. I do not think it will improve much with age.

More red than black fruit with a touch of earth in the nose. This medium bodied, soft, wine should be enjoyed young. I do not think it will improve much with age.

3,608 Views   Tasted
2005
87
Fully mature, this crowd pleasing style of wine was made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Still showing good color, the wine offers scents of licorice, smoke, black cherry, earth and tobacco. The round finish leaves with dark, red fruits and thyme. The wine was simply popped and poured.

Fully mature, this crowd pleasing style of wine was made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Still showing good color, the wine offers scents of licorice, smoke, black cherry, earth and tobacco. The round finish leaves with dark, red fruits and thyme. The wine was simply popped and poured.

5,660 Views   Tasted