Château Tour Bicheau
Updated on
Château Tour Bicheau, a family-run estate in the Graves appellation, is in conversion to organic farming. Patrick Daubas, representing the fifth generation, cultivates 25 hectares predominantly planted with Merlot, producing red, white, and rosé wines.
Identity
Château Tour Bicheau is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Portets, in the Gironde. The property is owned by Scea des vignobles Daubas et Fils, with Patrick Daubas managing and crafting the wines.
History and Philosophy
Château Tour Bicheau owes its name to a square, battlemented tower built at the end of the 19th century by the first of the family lineage, a wine merchant. Today, the Daubas family represents the fifth generation at the helm of this vineyard. Patrick Daubas took the reins in 2007, adopting an approach focused on evolving viticultural practices. The estate is committed to an energy transition, has eliminated chemical herbicides, and returned to traditional ploughing. It has been in conversion to organic farming since 2019.
Appellations
Château Tour Bicheau produces wines under the Graves appellation.
Practical Information
Château Tour Bicheau is located at 8, route du Cabernet, 33640 Portets. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 56 67 37 75 or by email at vignoblesdaubas@bbox.fr. Direct sales at the cellar door and tastings are available.
Find Out More
No official website recorded.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the main appellation of Château Tour Bicheau wines?
- Château Tour Bicheau produces its wines under the Graves appellation. This appellation is renowned for its dry red and white wines crafted in a dedicated geographical area of Bordeaux.
- Who owns and vinifies Château Tour Bicheau?
- Château Tour Bicheau is owned by Scea des vignobles Daubas et Fils. Patrick Daubas, representing the fifth generation of winegrowers, is the estate manager and winemaker.
- What grape varieties are planted in the Château Tour Bicheau vineyard?
- For its prestige cuvée, the Château Tour Bicheau vineyard is planted mainly with Merlot (90%), complemented by 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec. The general blend for the other red cuvées is likewise predominantly Merlot.
- Does Château Tour Bicheau practise sustainable viticulture?
- Yes, Château Tour Bicheau is dedicated to sustainable viticulture. The estate has been in organic conversion since 2019, has stopped using chemical herbicides, and has returned to traditional ploughing. Manual methods are also prioritised in the vineyard.
The Vineyard (Terroir)
The Château Tour Bicheau vineyard spans 25 hectares, mostly situated on the plateau de haut Portets. For its prestige cuvée, the estate relies on old vines planted in 1956. The grape varieties for this cuvée are predominantly Merlot (90%), complemented by 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec. Manual vineyard practices are carried out, notably suckering, canopy lifting, and leaf-thinning by hand. For the prestige cuvée, the grapes are entirely hand-harvested.
Flagship Cuvées
Château Tour Bicheau offers a range comprising two red wines, a dry white wine, and a rosé. Among the red wines, the Château Tour Bicheau cuvée is made from a Merlot-dominant blend, which can include Cabernet Sauvignon. A prestige cuvée is also produced from old vines and aged in new oak barrels, giving it a distinctive profile. The estate also produces the Château L'Arc Saint-Pierre and Château Haut Cantiroy cuvées.
Vinification and Ageing
The prestige cuvée of Château Tour Bicheau benefits from ageing in new oak barrels, contributing to its character and complexity.
- Appellation
- Graves
- Commune
- Portets
- Wine region
- Graves & Sauternais
- Owner
- Patrick Daubas
- Technical direction
- Patrick Daubas
- Surface area
- 25 ha
- Certifications
- Bio
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 90%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8%, Malbec 2%
Estate news
Tour Bicheau à Portets, Jeune talent du vin 2014
Le Château Tour Bicheau, situé à Portets dans l'appellation Graves et propriété de 25 hectares, a été désigné "Jeune talent du vin 2014" et a remporté le "Raisin de bronze". Il est le seul lauréat girondin de cette distinction décernée par la web-TV Jeunes talents TV. Patrick Daubas, viticulteur de 31 ans et gérant de cette exploitation familiale, a vu le millésime 2012 de la cuvée prestige du Château Tour Bicheau être particulièrement honoré par le jury présidé par Philippe Faure-Brac, meilleur sommelier du monde en 1992. Cette cuvée prestige est élaborée à partir de vieilles vignes plantées en 1956, composées de 90 % de merlot, 8 % de cabernet sauvignon et 2 % de malbec, avec une vendange manuelle et un élevage en fût de chêne neuf. Le château produit des vins rouges (dont une cuvée prestige), un blanc et un rosé, et a déjà reçu plusieurs récompenses par le passé, notamment au concours des Grands vins de France et au Concours général agricole à Paris. Patrick Daubas a été félicité par Jean-Pierre Moueix, propriétaire du Château Pétrus à Pomerol, lors de la cérémonie parisienne. Le Château Tour Bicheau est servi dans des établissements parisiens et compte parmi ses clients des personnalités comme Michel Galabru et Charlélie Couture. Le domaine s'engage également dans une démarche de transition énergétique, avec l'abandon des herbicides chimiques et le retour au labour traditionnel, ainsi que des opérations de remembrement pour lutter contre l'urbanisation.
Read the source — sudouest.frPractical information
- Address
- 8, rte du Cabernet, 33640 Portets
- Phone
- +33 5 56 67 37 75
- Visits
- Oui