{"product_id":"2020-chateau-tour-saint-christophe-saint-emilion-grand-cru","title":"2020 Château Tour Saint-Christophe Saint-Émilion Grand Cru","description":"\u003cp\u003e2020 Château Tour Saint-Christophe Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a refined Right Bank Bordeaux that beautifully captures the elegance and power of its limestone terraces. This Grand Cru marries intensity with finesse, offering a wine that feels both modern in polish and classic in structure. With its outstanding balance, mineral backbone, and remarkable value for the appellation, it stands out as a smart choice for both collectors and everyday Bordeaux lovers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2020 Château Tour Saint-Christophe shows a deep, vibrant ruby-purple colour with an opaque core and a bright, youthful rim. The nose is expressive and layered, offering ripe black plum, black cherry and cassis, intertwined with notes of graphite, crushed stone, violet, licorice and a touch of cedar and subtle baking spice from its time in oak.\n\nOn the palate, the wine is precise and focused, with a sleek, mineral-driven profile. The 80% Merlot brings plush, dark fruit and a velvety texture, while the 20% Cabernet Franc adds lift, freshness and floral complexity. Polished, fine-grained tannins frame flavours of blackberries, plum compote, cocoa and saline, almost chalky mineral notes that echo the hillside terroir. The finish is long and persistent, combining power and elegance in equal measure. This 2020 vintage has the structure and concentration to age beautifully for 10–15 years, potentially longer in ideal cellaring conditions, while already showing impressive approachability after a short decant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Tour Saint-Christophe is set on steep slopes in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, just outside the village of Saint-Émilion, with around 20 hectares of vines planted in terraces along the hillside across from the famed Troplong-Mondot. The terroir is dominated by limestone and clay-limestone soils, which naturally limit yields and give the wines their signature tension, freshness and mineral edge. The blend in 2020 is approximately 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, sourced from carefully tended vineyards that are harvested parcel by parcel, often by hand to ensure optimal ripeness and selection. In the cellar, fermentation typically takes place in temperature-controlled vats with gentle extraction to preserve purity of fruit and fine tannins, followed by maturation in French oak barrels (a proportion of which are new) to add complexity and texture without overwhelming the wine’s bright, terroir-driven character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a versatile partner at the table, pairing beautifully with roast lamb, grilled or pan-seared beef, duck breast, veal chops and game birds. It also shines alongside rich mushroom dishes, truffle risotto, lentil casseroles, and aged hard cheeses such as Comté or matured Gouda. For optimal enjoyment, serve at 16–18°C (around 60–64°F). Decanting for 1–2 hours will help the youthful tannins soften and allow the wine’s floral, mineral and dark-fruited nuances to fully unfold, especially in its first decade of life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Tour Saint-Christophe traces its roots to the early 20th century, when Denis Biès founded Château Saint-Christophe, building on a family tradition in the wine trade that had already spanned generations. After the Second World War, his granddaughter married Gilbert Richard, who continued to run the estate as an independent family domaine, preserving both its identity and its commitment to quality. Today, their son Jean-Claude, a wine broker, and grandson Frédéric, an oenologist, steer the property with the same spirit, focusing on expressing the remarkable hillside terroir of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. Their work has helped elevate the estate’s profile within Saint-Émilion, where Tour Saint-Christophe is now recognised for delivering sophisticated, terroir-driven Grand Cru wines with exceptional value for the region.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Tour Saint-Christophe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54255062843729,"sku":"GCW-MMUI-20112804","price":46.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/2019_cha_teau_tour_saint-christophe_saint-e_milion_grand_cru_1.png?v=1783456413","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/2020-chateau-tour-saint-christophe-saint-emilion-grand-cru","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}