Château Tour des Termes
Tour des Termes embodies ancestral expertise combined with a constant pursuit of innovation. The estate is certified Terras Vitis and HVE 3, reflecting its commitment to environmentally friendly viticulture. The team embraces sustainable practices, promoting natural grass cover, reducing the use of chemicals, and prioritizing manual interventions.
In 2025, Tour des Termes will begin constructing new cellars powered by renewable energy, reinforcing its commitment to a greener future. Each vintage tells a story—one of terroir, a passionate team, and a dedication to excellence—preserving the authenticity of Saint-Estèphe for future generations.
History
The history of Château Tour des Termes dates back to 1678 when records mention a certain Anney, a plowman in Potensac in the Médoc. In 1876, his descendant settled in Saint-Estèphe as a winegrower, initiating a family expansion that eventually led to the acquisition of the estate in 1938 by Pierre Anney. There, he discovered an old tower and a beautiful farmhouse in Saint-Corbian.
In 1979, Jean Anney and his son Christophe continued the tradition by modernizing the facilities and refining parcel selection. The vineyard developed across a series of hills oriented towards the Gironde, giving the terroir its unique character. In 2023, the O’Connor family, passionate about wine and committed to renewable energy, acquired the estate, carrying forward its ambition for excellence.
The Vineyard
Château Tour des Termes thrives on 15 hectares of gravel and clay-limestone soils, characteristic of the Saint-Estèphe AOC. Its identity is shaped by three distinct vineyard areas, alternating between deep gravel terraces and clay parcels over limestone. The grape composition, with 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brings complexity and refined aromatic expression.
Its second wine, Château Haut Baradieu, is grown on a three-hectare clay-limestone terroir with a higher planting density. The balanced blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon gives this wine a perfect harmony between power and suppleness.
Winemaking & Aging
Each grape cluster is carefully sorted to ensure the highest quality raw material. At Château Tour des Termes, vinification blends tradition and innovation. Eighty percent of the wine is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with daily pump-overs, while the remaining twenty percent undergoes whole-barrel fermentation in 400L barrels using the Oxoline method from Tonnellerie Baron. The long maceration, lasting up to a month, enhances the wine’s remarkable intensity and depth.
Aging for Château Tour des Termes lasts 15 months in French oak barrels, with 50% renewed annually, ensuring a perfect balance between oak and fruit. Château Haut Baradieu is aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels, with 20% renewed each year, contributing to its unique character.
Wine Character
Château Tour des Termes stands out for its impressive structure and harmonious balance. It displays a deep garnet-hued robe and an intense nose combining black fruits, spices, and toasted notes. On the palate, it offers great concentration, with silky tannins and a long, persistent finish, marked by aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, and refined oak.
Château Haut Baradieu, more approachable in its youth, reveals a fruitier, more indulgent expression, with supple tannins and a lovely freshness. The balance between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon gives it an elegant, structured character, making it ideal for earlier enjoyment.
