Tour Saint Christophe (Futures Pre-Sale) 2021
- Vinous
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker - Decanter
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Tour Saint Christophe is terrific. Naturally, the 2021 doesn't have the breadth of previous vintages. Instead, there is a sense of energy running through the 2021 that is compelling. Dark fruit, leather, gravel, incense and mocha all meld together nicely. Once again, Tour Saint Christophe is a star in the appellation for its quality and value. –Antonio Galloni
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
James Suckling
This is already nicely salty and chalky with crushed stones. Medium-to full-bodied with medium, firm tannins and a medium, juicy finish. Barrel Sample: 92-93
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Jeb Dunnuck
From an estate that seems to never put a foot wrong, the 2021 Château Tour Saint Christophe is another wine that's well worth your time and money. Coming from a mix of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc aging in 40% new barrels, its deep purple hue is followed by a beautiful, classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of cassis, ripe cherries, graphite, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it has both richness and elegance, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's another gorgeous wine from the talented Jérôme Aguirre.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Tour Saint Christophe has turned out very well, delivering aromas of cherries and sweet berries mingled with hints of loamy soil and sweet new oak. Medium to full-bodied, pure and lively, it's elegantly muscular, with powdery tannins and a penetrating finish.
Barrel Sample: (90-92)+ -
Decanter
A dark brooding nose, rich and concentrated, a touch savoury with soft perfumed blackberry aromas. Freshness straight away, the acidity is noticeable and so delicious, really bright and vibrant with a kick of fresh strawberry juice giving such energy to the palate. Really singing loudly. Mouthwatering attack and finish - that sense of life and acidity keeping pace the whole way through the palate. Lifted and joyous! A top buy for pure enjoyment but still with that structure with gentle herbal tones, some creaminess, vanilla and cinnamon - it's less about one flavour more a subtle combination that underpins the wine with the freshness really on top and to the fore! Great effort in 2021.
Barrel Sample: 92
Other Vintages
2022-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck - Decanter
-
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker - Decanter
-
James
Suckling - Decanter
- Vinous
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker - Decanter
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
The Chateau overlooks beautiful dry stone terraces several hundred years old on a chalky-clay terroir. The vineyard is planted on this plateau where it has optimal sunlight and perfect natural drainage. The average age of the vines are thirty years old, they flourish and reach perfection in a limestone clay soil enhanced with sedimentary fragments of flint and chalk. It's this secret alchemy which makes the quality of our 'terroir'.
Aware of the richness of the legacy of the past and to preserve it, they undertook to restore Chateau Tour Saint Christophe. The objective was to revive the vineyard terraces with the disassembling and the reconstruction of this dry stone equipment as it had been built in the 18th century. About 1.5 km of dry-stone terraces have been renovated by re-shaping each stone by hand. A titanic work to preserve the original appearance of these unique terraces in Saint-Emilion.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.