Château La Tour Blanche 2009

The freshness and balance of a Sauternes wine

The estate

Built in the 18th century, the Château La Tour Blanche is now home to the La Tour Blanche School of Viticulture and Oenology. Premier Grand Cru Classé of Sauternes in 1855, Château La Tour Blanche, which has been owned by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region since 2010, now has an educational vocation while continuing its history of making great Sauternes wines.

The vineyard

The estate’s 40 hectares are located on a terroir subject to the influence of the morning mists from two rivers, favouring the development of botrytis cinerea, the fungus that gives rise to noble rot. Château La Tour Blanche produces elegant Sauternes wines in the shady tranquillity of its cellars, bearing the colours of the appellation.

The vintage

A relatively wet winter and a mild spring made way for a hot and dry summer. The harvests were high in quantity and quality, revealing a deliciously concentrated Sémillon with a fruity structure.

Blend  

Sémillon (80%)
Sauvignon blanc (15%)
Muscadelle (5%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Château La Tour Blanche 2011

Tasting

Nose
The wine releases notes of citrus fruit, exotic fruit and toast at the nose. Swirling the wine, notes of dried fruit like apricot appear, then refreshing scents of menthol and exotic fruit scents, like guava and pineapple.

Palate
Full-bodied, smooth and fruity, the palate entices with its balance between alcohol, sugar and acidity. An enveloping freshness contrasts with fresh fruit and preserved fruit up to a slightly vanilla finish.

To serve

For the best tasting, decant the wine into a carafe 4 hours before serving between 12 and 13°C.

Storage

This Sauternes wine can be enjoyed today, and can be laid down until around 2030.