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La Tour Blanche 2016

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Sauternes and Barsac
ColourSweet White
TypeStill
Grape VarietySauvignon Blanc/Semillon

This famous Sauternes 1er Cru Classé (owned by French Ministry of Agriculture since 1911) sits in the heart of Sauternes close to the river Ciron. The 37 hectare vineyard is made up of 83% Semillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle. Average yields are just 10-15 hectolitres per hectare before fermentation in barrels and stainless steel tanks. Ageing takes place in 100% new oak barrels for 18-24 months.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château La Tour Blanche

Label

Tasting Notes

A slew of dried mangoes and candied citrus, a full, succulent body and a long, clean finish, give this Sauternes plenty of appeal. Drink or hold.

93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2019

Rich and creamy, this opens slowly but beautifully. It has a great silky texture with a creamy character throughout, and flavours of apple tarte tatin. There is good persistency, but it's a touch heavy on the finish.
Drinking Window 2022-2050

89
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017

Broad, massive in scale with exuberant botrytis and then masses of acidity. Pure grapefruit syrup for the moment! Not the subtlest. 13.7%
Drink 2025-2040

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2017

One of the top Sauternes in this report is the 2016 Château La Tour Blanche, and while 2016 was not a great vintage for the sweet wines of Sauternes, this beauty makes the most of it. Fabulous notes of honeyed peach, tangerine, flower oil, and honeyed citrus all give way to a sexy, full-bodied, flamboyant effort that’s already impossible to resist. Drink it any time over the coming two decades. Drink 2019-2039.

97
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, February 2019

There is an exotic floral quality about the nose the palate has a balance of rich ripe fruit and freshness complexity. Fresh at the back hints of peppery botrytis the finish has sweet fruit richness depth. 2024-40

92/94
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2017

Rich, dense and concentrated, this is one of the most sumptuous of 2016 Sauternes, with layers of honey and stone fruit sweetness complemented by nutmeg spice, a hint of ginger and vivid, palate-cleansing acidity. One of the sweet wines of the vintage. 2022-32

96
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2017
Read more tasting notes...

The 2016 La Tour Blanche has a typically rich bouquet with clear honey, orange blossom and a touch of dried mango. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, fine tension, great detail on the finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is a superb La Tour Blanche with style and elegance.
Drink Date 2023 - 2055

94/96
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017

Very rich and dense with dried apples, honey and lemons as well as some spices and richness. Sweet and flavorful. Big wine on the finish.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2017
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.