Deep Cover: Don’t be caught without enough Sauternes for the season!

Per Decanter, “The 18th century Château La Tour Blanche is justifiably proud of its ranking in the classification of 1855, coming second only to Yquem”

Remember that divinely dry Léonie?

Well, that love affair led us to this offer today. When Agent Noir had just one day in Sauternes during his last visit to Bordeaux, two completely contrasting but equally enchanting Château visits sufficed. Yquem, of course, and the beloved La Tour Blanche. It was memorable to say the least, balancing the mandatory pilgrimage to Yquem, just like the way acidity does so with sweetness in great Sauternes.

From a bygone vintage with over a decade at the Château cellars comes this 50% OFF Wine Spies exclusive at a price that nothing comparable exists out there for how rare and gourmet a treat these wines can be.

If you have not been, you owe it to yourself to visit. Can you imagine a Château sharing its property and precious vineyards with a campus anywhere else in the world but in Bordeaux? Uniquely among classed growths, this estate is owned by the regional government of Aquitaine, aka the state of France. It houses the middle and vocational high school La Tour Blanche School of Viticulture and Oenology, that was established in 1909, nowadays covering 7th through 12th grade for educating local wine families. Harvest in the morning, class in the afternoon, now how cool is that?!

Jeff Leve of The Wine Cellar Insider explains “Despite its unusual status, Château La Tour Blanche is run by people experienced in the Bordeaux wine business. The 44-hectare vineyard has 40 hectares of vines planted to 83% Semillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle. That gives La Tour Blanche one of the higher concentrations of Muscadelle in all of Bordeaux. The terroir is a mix of gravel, clay, sand, and limestone soil. The vine density is 6,200 vines per hectare. The vineyard is in one, large parcel of vines, in a prime location, not far from the Ceron river. There are good elevations here, as at the top of the slopes are close to 67 meters at their peak.”

And the truth is in every HALF bottle, conveniently sized for those cold nights that need a little Sauternes to make them unforgettable, be it served with or as dessert, foie gras, blue cheeses, dried fruits, candied nuts, at a Thanksgiving or Christmas feast, by the fireplace, with loved ones, friends, and family.

Wine Advocate is right, “Leave the Yquem for the millionaires: load up on La Tour Blanche!”

94 Points – Wine Enthusiast “A gorgeous wine that’s very opulent while also structured. It has richness and weight, and is remarkably dry at the core, but with surrounding delicious sweetness. It’s likely to be a long-lived wine.”

93 Points – Vinous “The 2012 La Tour Blanche has an excellent bouquet, one of the best of the Sauternes that was released in this vintage, with pure honeysuckle, quince and saffron scents. The palate is well balanced, taut and fresh with a fine bead of acidity, decent tension and a pretty finish. It does not have the substance to suggest long-term cellaring, but it is well crafted. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting in 2022. Drink 2022-2037.”

93 Points – Tim Atkin MW “Balanced sweetness (132 gm/l residual sugar) with fairly intense marmalade, dried apricot flavours and wonderful freshness. Good concentration, medium body with balanced acidity and fairly long finish. One of the few 1er Cru Classé Sauternes that did well in this vintage. Drink 2019-2028.”