“2009, a Great Vintage at La Tour de By”

This week, I’ll continue telling you the story of the Tour de By… My grandfather became the sole owner of the estate in 1999.

2009: A major revelation for Bettane and Desseauve

2009 is a great vintage at La Tour de By, in more ways than one, as Michel Bettane (Bettane + Desseauve) states: “By far the greatest wine ever produced by the estate in a generation… the appellation’s finest terroir is finally coming into its own!”

This is quite a revelation, especially considering that Michel Bettane knew our grandfather very well and has always kept a close eye on the wines of La Tour de By.

A very promising harvest for the 2015 vintage

One last word on the harvest… 2015 is already shaping up to be an exceptional vintage! We’ve been waiting for this for a long time! All the right conditions are in place: a very cold winter that allowed the vines to regenerate fully, enough rain to replenish water reserves without overdoing it, and a beautiful spring that let the vines develop well and even get a head start! This summer, the intense heat allowed the berries to ripen beautifully, a process that continued smoothly into September.

In conclusion, the harvest, which began on September 28, yielded well-ripened, concentrated, and fruity Merlots, as well as well-structured Cabernet Sauvignons with fine, precise tannins and lovely acidity. The Petit Verdots are superb, with great body and very elegant tannins. A vintage of great balance!

Find my wines on Les Grappes

Benjamin Richer de Forges (winemaker at Château La Tour de By)