Château la Tour de By

Identity

Château La Tour de By is a winegrowing estate located in Bégadan, in the Gironde department. It is currently managed by Frédéric Le Clerc, with Benjamin Richer de Forges serving as commercial director.

History and philosophy

The winegrowing history of the fief of By dates back to the 16th century, when vines were first cultivated here. In 1599, Pierre Tizon, Lord of By, acquired the property. The estate's iconic tower was erected in 1825.

The estate underwent a major revival from 1965 onwards under the impetus of agricultural engineer Marc Pagès, who enlisted the expertise of consultant oenologist Émile Peynaud. In 2005, Frédéric Le Clerc took over the management of Château La Tour de By. The estate holds Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification and was awarded the Best Of Wine Tourism trophy in the "Discovery and Innovation" category in 2015. It is also affiliated with the Vignerons Indépendants and the Vignobles et Découvertes network.

The appellations

The wines of Château La Tour de By are produced under the Médoc Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée.

Practical information

Château La Tour de By is located at 5 rue de La Tour de By, 33340 Bégadan. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 56 41 50 03 or by email at administration@latourdeby.fr or info@latourdeby.fr.

The cellar is open for free visits and tastings featuring various wines and vintages. Group visits (15–20 people) are also welcome. Languages spoken include French, English, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. Opening hours vary according to the season: from 5 January to 30 June (excluding July/August), Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:00. From 1 July to 31 August, daily from 9:00 to 18:00. From 1 September to 18 December, Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00.

Visitors can also discover the historic vat room, a collection of vintage viticultural and cooperage tools, stroll through the vineyard, and enjoy panoramic views of the Gironde estuary from the Tour de By. The estate also offers self-catering accommodation, "La Valière", a 19th-century maison de maître.

Accepted payment methods include American Express, debit/credit cards, cheques, and cash. The estate features an on-site boutique and an online shop offering a delivery service.

Learn more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château La Tour de By vineyard spans 67.5 hectares, although some sources cite an area of 80 hectares. The soils consist primarily of gravels resting on an iron-pan (alios) subsoil. The vines have an average age of 40 years.

The grape varieties are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), complemented by Merlot (35%) and Petit Verdot (5%).

Flagship cuvées

The estate's grand vin, Château La Tour de By, is crafted from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It is ranked Cru Bourgeois Supérieur (2003 classification). The estate also produces a second wine, Château Cailloux de By, alongside single-varietal cuvées.

The wines are distinguished by a well-defined structure that develops with ageing. The estate reports an annual production of around 450,000 bottles.

Vinification and ageing

Grapes are harvested mechanically at optimal maturity. Vinification takes place in wooden vats. Ageing lasts 12 months in French oak barrels, comprising roughly 25% new oak, one-third one-wine barrels, and one-third two-wine barrels. Egg-white fining is traditionally used.