The Chateau Tour Baladoz property, located in Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, was purchased by Belgian wine trader Emile De Schepper in May 1950 and included 5.56 hectares of vines. As the new owner, he spent his first year renovating the cellars and making improvements to the vineyards and in the early years, the wine was exclusively exported to Belgium, in barrel, where it was bottled in the owner’s merchant cellars in Ghent.

The current cellar master and winemaker is the ultra-talented Jean-Michel Garcion, who was appointed in 1992 and now also overseas production at the flagship sister estate Chateau La Croizille next door, as well as at Chateau Haut Breton Larigaudiere in Margaux.

I recently returned from Bordeaux after a very productive trip to both the left and right banks, and was there to see the start of the 2023 harvest kick off at both Chateau Tour Baladoz and La Croizille, neighbouring properties of the famous Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf. The common theme of tastings seemed to be producers promoting the last of the 2020 vintages but also reshowing the slightly more nervy and fresh 2021s that are perhaps finally finding a more confident, firmer footing after an admittedly difficult En-primeur performance last year. At Chateau Tour Baladoz, I retasted both the plush, ripe 2020 and the fresher 2021 and was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

Chateau Tour Baladoz 2020 St Emilion Grand Cru, 14.5% Abv.

This is a lovely deep dark black fruited wine loaded with ripe black currants, salty black liquorice, dried violets and seductive notes of incense and scented candles. The palate shows a beautifully defined shape and frame, sleek glassy acids and beautifully polished marble tannins that add ample structural frame to display the tight knit, earthy blue and black berry fruit concentration. Fabulously harmonious and balanced with a perfectly massaged, dry mineral finish. Such impressive density with light touch concentration making for a seriously classy right bank expression.

(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Chateau Tour Baladoz 2021 St Emilion Grand Cru, 13.5% Abv.

The 2021 vintage is a lofty blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere. The aromatics are overtly stony and mineral with bright but subtle elements of blue and black berry fruits emerging to entice. Initially taut and linear in appearance, the palate speaks a very classical language, minerally focused, texturally polished and tightly packed with a restrained broody black fruited demeanour. Certainly plenty of attention to detail on display, with very fine-grained mineral tannins and a long spicy finish. A wine that shows better and better every time I taste it. Drink from 2024 until 2034+.

(Wine Safari Score: 92+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)