It’s easy to get excited about the classified stars in the Bordeaux firmament but these aren’t the wines we drink on a weekly basis. Some of them are so far out of reach they are wines we can only dream of drinking.
Tour de By is the antidote to that. Situated pretty much on the banks of the Gironde on a high gravel outcrop, north of St-Estephe, planted to 70% Cabernet, 25% Merlot & 5% Petit Verdot. Well drained very poor soil gives it ideal growing conditions and improvements in vineyard practice over the past few years have put the final touches to what is a very well managed property.
There is no nonsense here. It’s lovely stuff – it needs at least 5 years in the cellar, but is fresh and balanced, has plenty of fruit and tastes of classic Bordeaux. We go long on it and suggest you do too.
(ZA 13/04/11)