Château Tour Saint Fort

Identity

Château Tour Saint-Fort is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Estèphe in the Gironde. It is owned by Jean-Louis Laffort, with estate management overseen by Pascal Fricard.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Tour Saint-Fort dates back to 1773, the year the main building was constructed. The vineyard has seen various dynasties of owners over the centuries, including the Pez and Calon families. By the end of the 18th century, the estate's wines were already traded in England and Holland. The property has also been known under historic names such as Maison Cazeaux, Château Pineau, and Cru Tour Pineau.

In 1878, the property passed into the hands of a family of notaries. At the beginning of the 20th century, in 1900, Tenelus Pineau acquired it, and the estate was then called Château Pineau. Its wines won an award at the Liège Exhibition in 1905. During the 1930s, the estate went through a difficult period that led to the grubbing up of the vines. The main residence was destroyed during the Second World War, though a two-storey 19th-century vat house, built around 1850, survived. For a time, the site operated primarily as a livestock farm.

Jean-Louis Laffort arrived at the estate in 1992. The property saw its most recent change of ownership in 2016. Today, period features can still be seen, such as the late 19th-century two-storey vat house and a surrounding wall from the former Cru la Tour du Château Pineau.

Appellations

Château Tour Saint-Fort produces wines under the Saint-Estèphe appellation.

Practical Information

Château Tour Saint-Fort is located at 1, route de la Villotte, Lieu-dit Laujac, 33180 Saint-Estèphe. For further information, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 56 59 38 19 or by email at contact@chateautoursaintfort.com.

The estate offers themed visits. Tours run Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 18:00, and on Saturdays during the high season. The visit is priced at €10 per person.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vines of Château Tour Saint-Fort surround the château. The soil is characterised by fine sandy gravel overlying a clay or limestone subsoil. The estate holds the Cru Bourgeois classification and has achieved sustainable environmental certification. The vineyard's grape varieties are 65% Merlot.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate produces several cuvées, including CHATEAU TOUR SAINT-FORT, classified as Cru Bourgeois, and BARON D’ESTOURS du Château Tour Saint-Fort. The estate's red wines are crafted to express an elegant and complex style. The first vintage of this new era was 2018.

Vinification and Ageing

Vinification at Château Tour Saint-Fort includes cold pre-fermentation maceration. The wines are vinified in stainless steel vats equipped with automatic temperature-control systems. During fermentation, a complete rack-and-return (délestage) and/or one or more pump-overs are carried out daily. Post-fermentation maceration lasts an average of 3 to 4 weeks.

Ageing takes place in French oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months. The proportion of new oak used ranges from 30% to 40%.