Château Tour des Termes

Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

Château Tour des Termes is a rising star in Saint-Estèphe. Nestled between Calon-Segur to the east, Château le Boscq to the north, and Château de Pez to the south, this is time-honoured terroir. Christophe Anney spent decades bringing this Châteaux into the spotlight, improving every aspect of the vineyard management and cellar practices, culminating in the Estate’s recent promotion to Cru Bourgeois Supérieur in 2020 (and even still it is swinging above its weight class). 

Preparing for retirement, Mssr. Anney has sold this beautiful Château to the O’Connor family of Ireland, who made their mint in clean energy. Christophe Anney remains on to help transition the estate to Julien Brustis, previously employed at Château Angélus, Château Latour Martillac, and Château Dauzac. Hubert de Boüard (of Angélus, et al) is consulting enologist. The future is bright! In her authoritative book Inside Bordeaux in 2020, Jane Anson wrote of Tour des Termes: “Great quality and still independently owned, this is an estate to follow and support. […] Certainly rustic is not a word you would use to describe Tour des Termes, as the fruit is often soft, appealing and extremely drinkable.” 

Three blocks make up the identity of the Tour des Termes vineyard. One is on a deep gravel terrace typical of the Médoc, while the other two consist of clay on top of limestone, representing Saint Estèphe’s geological diversity. These soils guide the choice of grape varieties planted at Tour des Termes: 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. 

This wine was such a wonderful find on my recent trip to Bordeaux. It exemplifies the depth of outstanding wines that populate the figurative and actual interstices between famed estates, remaining blissfully unspoilt by collectors’ market forces.

Vineyard : 35 ha. 45hl/ha. average age of vines is 40 years old. Terra Vitis & HEV3 certified. Soil is 1/3 gravel and 2/3 clay-limestone. Production: 90,000 bottles. Blend: 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The wines age 15 months in French oak barriques. 50% are renewed every year. Serve between 16 and 17°C. Will improve over 15 to 20 years.