Who makes it
Château La Tour Blanche is a Sauternes estate classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. In ordinary wine language, that is a First Growth, one of the classification's highest categories. Its sweet white wine uses Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.
Daniel Iffla bequeathed the estate to the French state in 1907, with the condition that it become an agricultural college. Wine production and agricultural education remain part of the property's history.
Where it grows
Sauternes is the Bordeaux appellation for sweet white wine. Sweetness comes from grape sugar left after fermentation, while noble rot can reduce water in grapes and concentrate sugar and aroma.
The vineyard area totals 44 hectares, with 40 hectares planted to white grapes and four hectares to Merlot. The white plantings support the Sauternes wine, while Merlot is the red grape grown on the property.
What they make
Château La Tour Blanche 2023 is a sweet white Sauternes. Its blend is 83% Sémillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle.
Sémillon gives the wine a broad, rich base, Sauvignon Blanc contributes acidity and aromatic freshness, and Muscadelle adds delicate muscat scent with exotic spicy notes. Residual sugar adds weight, while acidity keeps the finish from feeling heavy.