Château Latour
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Château Latour
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Top Vintages Produced: |
1899, 1949, 1959, 1961, 1982, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009
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Classification: |
Grand Vin de Château Latour - Premier Cru Classé in 1855 and 1973.
Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac de Latour: Appellation Pauillac Contrôlée.
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Varieties: |
Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (18%), Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (2%)
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Wines Produced: |
Grand Vin de Château Latour – First Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot (1%).
Les Forts de Latour – Second Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (30%).
Pauillac de Latour – Third Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
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History
Established in the 1670s, the vineyards of Château Latour are some of the oldest in the Médoc,
pre-dating the existing Château (which was built between 1862 and 1864) by almost 200 years.
The grandiose Tower of St Lambert depicted on the wine’s label is instantly recognisable. Built as a
fortress during the Hundred Years’ War in the late 1300s, it was burned to the ground in the 1450s and
replaced by a pigeon tower, built from the stones of the former Château, between 1620 and 1630.
It was not until the early 18th century that the Château came to prominence as a producer of
first class wines. This success can largely be attributed to the demands of a budding wine market in
Northern Europe and the Marquis de Ségur’s concurrent investment in the vineyard and winery. Ownership
remained in the de Ségur family for almost 300 years until 1963 when three quarters of the shares in
Château Latour were sold to a British company, the Pearson group.
The intensive modernisation and attention to detail that followed this change in ownership has
continued with the management of Francois Pinault, the current owner, who acquired the estate in 1993.
Together Pinault and Frédéric Engerer, his estate manager, are renowned for producing exemplary yet
consistent wines, which are especially fine, even in weaker vintages. This notable finesse, as any discerning
consumer will attest, is an exceptional and rare occurrence. (read more)
Viticulture and Vinification
As the closest of the Médoc vineyards to the Gironde River, the vineyards benefit from its moderating influence
on the sometimes harsh Bordeaux frosts. In addition, the terroir at Château Latour is exceptional with the
gravel-based soils allowing the vines to send deep roots into the rich subsoil.
Of the 78 hectare vineyard, there are 47 hectares of the oldest vines which surround the Château called
L’Enclos. Only grapes from here will go into the blend for the Grand Vin de Château Latour. The Second
Wine, Les Forts de Latour, also has its own unique identity as the fruit always comes from a distinct location,
as opposed to from barrels which did not make the cut for the First Wine.
The standard of excellence necessitates strict control of the vinification process with severe selection during
harvesting and the use of separate stainless steel tanks for each parcel during fermentation. The blend chosen
to become the Grand Vin de Château Latour is subsequently aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
The Grand Vin de Château Latour, of which 16-20,000 cases of are released each year, has a reputation for
being an extremely slow-developing wine, usually requiring up to 25 years of bottle ageing to reveal its stunning
power, depth and richness.
Classification
- Grand Vin de Château Latour - Premier Cru Classé in 1855 and 1973.
- Les Forts de Latour – Appellation Pauillac Contrôlée.
- Pauillac de Latour – Appellation Pauillac Contrôlée.
Varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 80% of the total vines planted, with 18% Merlot
and Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot comprising the remaining 2%.
Wines Produced
Each year the blends differ slightly but the general make-up is as follows:
- Grand Vin de Château Latour – First Wine: 75 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc and 1 % Petit Verdot.
- Les Forts de Latour – Second Wine: 70 % Cabernet and 30 % Merlot.
- Pauillac de Latour – Third Wine: This is not produced every year but, when it is, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot usually vie for dominance.
Order top vintages of Château Latour
- Château Latour 2009: (98-100 RP)
"A monumental wine from a monumental vintage in the Médoc..." – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
- Château Latour 2003: (100 RP)
"Massive and multi-layered, with huge richness and low acidity, it is about as unctuous as a young Latour can be..." – Robert Parker,
The Wine Advocate
- Château Latour 1982: (100 RP)
"The concentration remains remarkable…the wine is a full-bodied, exuberant, rich, classic Pauillac..." – Robert Parker,
The Wine Advocate
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Not seeing the specific wine or vintage you’re looking for?
The wines displayed here only represent a small portion of our total inventory.
To check our complete stockholdings, please contact
us via email or call us on +44 (0) 20 3219 5588.
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