Chateau Pey La Tour
AOC Bordeaux et Bordeaux Supérieur
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AN EXEMPLARY PROPERTY
For connoisseurs and amateurs alike, Bordeaux often calls to mind the world of Grand Cru Classé wines, the true elite of Bordeaux, if not the world, an unrivalled icons in fine wine circles.
Yet Bordeaux is also about smaller, less well-known appellations, which certainly influenced our decision to purchase Château Pey La Tour in 1990, fully committed to revealing the full potential of this stunning terroir and craft a magnificent, characterful, complex and elegant wine.
This cru has become one of the most consistent and dependable Bordeaux supérieur wines.Bettane et Desseauve
Key facts
92/100
James Suckling
500
Trees and bushes planted since 2013 to promote biodiversity
Planting
124 Ha Merlot
5,5 Ha Cabernet Sauvignon
4 Ha Cabernet Franc
1,5 Ha Petit Verdot
Soil profile
Clay-limestone, small gravel stones in a clay and sandy-clay matrix.
Total surface area
135 Ha
Terroir
The wines at Château Pey La Tour are geological jewels. They benefit from a remarkable diversity of soils that are unique to the region, and span 90 parcels.
Soil studies carried out on each parcel identify the most suitable plant matter for each soil-type. Vinified and matured in separate batches, the parcels offer Château Pey La Tour the character and complexity typical of a Bordeaux fine wine.
The soils at Château Pey La Tour are:
● clay-limestone for fresh, concentrated Merlot
● compact gravel, comprising small pebbles held in a clay matrix to promote ripe Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
● alluvial clay which limits water stress in the vine during heatwave conditions, and produces fresh and fruity red wines.
90 different parcels are identified by combining soil-type, grape varieties, rootstocks and vines of different ages, which are then vinified and aged separately.
Viticulture
A new viticultural regime is introduced across the entire vineyard, in total harmony with the terroir and vines to obtain grapes of optimum quality.
Nothing is left to chance in this Bordeaux vineyard:
– increasing planting densities and leaf surface area
– installing drainage in replanted plots
– natural cover planting every other row
– reducing cropping levels
– leaf-thinning
– sustainable viticulture applied throughout the vineyard
– installation of an integrated weather station.
These interventions in the vineyard have been implemented by the Dourthe team with rigour, passion and attention to detail for over 25 years, allowing harvesting to be staggered over time, so that only perfectly ripe grapes are picked.
Guyot Poussard.
Traditional ploughing, mechanical weeding. Manual budstripping, deleafing and lateral shoot removal.
Organic and biological controlled agents. CMR pesticides banned. Controlled cover-cropping.
Selective harvesting. By machine, with integrated sorting.
Winemaking and ageing
In addition to the rigorous work carried out in the vineyard, Château Pey La Tour boasts exemplary winemaking facilities. The grape receival area is also desinged to cope with the pace of harvesting and rigorous berry selection.
The stainless-steel tank room is equipped with temperature control on every tank, allowing vinification by individual vineyard block, and in separate batches.
Réserve du Château, which expresses the unique character of the finest terroirs, is aged 12 – 14 months in the barrel hall.
The results of these efforts are rewarded today not only in the loyalty of our customers, but also in feedback from the press, ranking Château Pey La Tour well above its appellation, and a true benchmark in affordable fine wine.
The team
Frédéric Bonnaffous, Chief Winemaker
Bruno Marlet, Estate Manager
Our history
The remains of a stone castle is testament to the wealthy past of this important Lordship whose origins date back to the Middle Ages, and where vines have continued to flourish over the centuries.
2013
A haven of biodiversity
Several hundred trees and bushes are planted linking the two extremes of this vast estate, and promoting the already flourishing biodiversity, including wild orchids, many species of insects, birds and small mammals.
2002
Château Pey La Tour
‘Château de La Tour’ is renamed ‘Château Pey La Tour’, the word ‘pey’ in local dialect signifying a small hill, a height; and in this case where the winery and the remains of the tower today stand.
1990
Dourthe becomes owner
Dourthe acquires Château de La Tour, fully committed to revealing the full potential of this magnificent terroir, and craft a magnificent, characterful, complex and elegant wine.
1900s
Château de La Tour
Vines have always been part of the estate. Viticulture develops in the 18th century and the château constantly features as one of the region’s most prominent wine estates in the famous Féret wine guide, since its third edition in 1874. It is known at the time as Château de La Tour.
1400…
Powerful families
From the Middle Ages to the French Revolution, several powerful families sit at the head of this Lordship, including Montpezat and de la Mota de Roquetaillade in the 15th and 16th centuries, Dupérier de Larsan in the 17th, and Gouteyron-Libéral, Pierre de Vassal Sineuil, mayor of Salleboeuf in the 19th century.
All these families have shaped the history of this vineyard estate.
1300s
A unique feudal mound
The remains of the feudal mound of “La Tour”, with its stone enclosure surrounded by a moat, are still in evidence near the winery. Constructed to protect the region, it receives its first mention in the 11th century. English harnesses dating back to the 14th century are sometimes still found today in the vineyard.
Gallery
