Chateau Tour Saint Christophe is a Bordeaux wine estate located in the Saint Emilion Grand Cru appellation at the border between the villages of Saint-Emilion and Saint Christophe des Bardes. The property overlooks beautiful centuries-old dry stone terraces on a clay-limestone subsoil. The shape of the property is a unique feature among the vineyards of Saint-Emilion, partly planted on narrow terraces where the vineyard is tended in tight five-row groups. This micro-landscape extends onto the slope overlooking the St Laurent valley.

In order to preserve the estate’s rich heritage, owner Peter Kwok undertook a recent restoration of the Chateau and revived the vineyard terraces with the reconstruction of dry stone walls as it had been built in the 18th century. About 1.5 km of dry-stone terraces have been repaired by hand, a two-year process, preserving their unique appearance.

The vineyard has an ideal south-southwest exposure and perfect natural drainage conditions. It is this secret alchemy which contributes to the quality of their terroir. The vines, 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, have an average age of thirty years.

When Peter Kwok purchased Chateau Tourans in 2015, its vines were added to Chateau Tour Saint Christophe, bringing the estate’s vineyard surface up to 20 hectares.

Chateau Tour Saint Christophe is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grown on clay and limestone soil. The sorted grapes are put directly into concrete tanks or Bordeaux barrels (about 25% of the harvest). This follows the method of Vinification Intégrale, particularly well-suited for the Chateau Tour Saint Christophe terroir.

The wine is aged in the same barrels for 15-18 months at constant temperature in the underground cellar. Depending on the vintage, the proportion of new oak varies from 30% to 40% with the balance using 1- and 2-year old barrels.

The 2023 Tour Saint Christophe Bordeaux Blend from the Saint Emilion sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a well-regarded red wine produced by Tour Saint Christophe. This vintage is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, aged in 25% new French oak barrels. It has received high praise from various reviewers, highlighting its distinctive characteristics and potential for aging.

James Suckling awarded the wine an impressive score of 96, describing it as having "quality of fruit and salty undertones from the limestone soil" with "very fine, velvety tannins that spread across the palate" and a "bright and crunchy" finish (jamessuckling.com).

Neal Martin from Vinous gave the wine a score of 92, noting its "perfumed, floral bouquet" and "crunchy red fruit mixed with white pepper and cedar." He describes it as "quite linear toward the finish" and a "finely-tuned Saint-Émilion that should age well in bottle" (Vinous).

Jane Anson, scoring the wine 93, remarked on its "vibrant but inky plum colour" and "clear energy." She highlighted its "tight tannins" and "high level of black pepper and clove spice," with flavors of "cassis and black chocolate" (janeanson.com).

Jeb Dunnuck, with a score of 95, praised it as a "killer bottle of wine in the making" with a "deep purple hue" and a "rocking bouquet of cassis and black raspberries interwoven with spring flowers, hints of leather, and a brilliant sense of minerality." He noted its "juicy acidity, ripe tannins, and beautiful overall balance" (jebdunnuck.com).

Jeff Leve, scoring it 96, described the wine as having a "vivacious palate" with "layers of sweet, black, and red plums, cherries, and raspberries." He emphasized the wine's "energetic and soft, polished side" and its "finishing with accents of salt and spice" (TheWineCellarInsider.com).

Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Independent gave the wine a score of 94, highlighting its "very pretty perfume of violets, black cherries, and mulberries" and a "medium to full-bodied palate" with "vibrant black berry flavors" and a "spicy kick" (The Wine Independent).

Decanter also awarded the wine 94 points, noting its "vivid floral notes and bright cherry, plum, and wet stone." The wine is described as "fresh and concentrated" with "fine and sap driven" tannins (Decanter).

Overall, the 2023 Tour Saint Christophe Bordeaux Blend is a highly-regarded wine, praised for its vibrant fruit flavors, balanced tannins, and potential for aging.