Château LaTour-Martillac — located in the commune of Martillac in Pessac-Léognan — is a Graves Cru Classé. The estate is named after the property’s tower, the remnant of a small, 12th century fort that controlled the route between Bordeaux and Toulouse during the French Revolution. Stone from the ruins of the fort were used to construct the existing château at the end of the 18th century. Viticulture on the property began in the early 19th century, though the wines did not gain notoriety until Edouard Kressman, a German wine trader, became involved in the wine production in 1871. After the death of the estate’s owner, Kressman purchased LaTour-Martillac in 1929, fearing he would lose the wine that generations of his clients had come to love. Today, the property is managed by brothers Tristan and Loïc, the fourth generation of the Kressman family to oversee the estate, which is comprised of 42 hectares of sustainably-farmed vineyards (certified HVE Level 3 in 2020). Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle are grown in soils of clay-limestone cover in gravel composed of quartz, lydian, jasper and flint. Château LaTour-Martillac is one of only six Graves estates that is classified for both red and white wines.