A pillar of Margaux, Château La Tour de Bessan is still home to the ruins of the 13th century tower which gave the estate its name. The property’s current leadership began when Lucien Lurton acquired the tower and vineyards through purchase from the Clauzel family. While Monsieur Lurton did his best to establish this wine estate while managing his other properties, it wasn’t until his daughter Marie-Laure took over in 1992 that the estate truly began to blossom. Initially, Marie-Laure was a Jane-of-all-trades. Armed with her oenology degree and the experience of toiling on her father’s other estates, Marie-Laure threw herself into the work. Her first investments are devoted to the vineyards, including uprooting and replanting. Next, Marie-Laure focused on rehabilitation of the cellar facilities with new installations into the vat room, barrel room and a state-of-the-art tasting room. Today, Marie-Laure considers herself more a conductor than a one-woman band. She has assembled a wonderfully skilled team that oversees the sustainably-farmed 35 hectares of vines grown in soils of Pyrenean gravel-clay (HVE 3 & Terra Vitis-certified in 2003). The vines of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot average 35 years of age allowing Château la Tour de Bessan to craft illustrious wines of quality and prestige.