Château Latour (Winemaking, Best Bottles to Buy in 2024)

What’s special about the regal Chateau Latour, and which are the best wines you should buy?

At the southern edge of the Pauillac Appellation In Medoc lies the fairytale-like Château Latour - a Primeur Grand Cru Classé 1855 (the most prestigious first growth classification in France and the world.)

Stretching over 78 hectares, this historic Bordeaux Château produces Three Sublime Wines - Château Latour Grand Vin, Les Forts de Latour, and Pauillac de Latour. 

This article will cover Château Latour’s history, winemaking practices, tasting notes, the best wines to buy in 2023, and How To Invest In Them.

A Quick Look at Château Latour 

The Chateau Latour wine estate is situated in the Bordeaux wine region of France, 300 meters away from the Gironde Estuary. It is one of the oldest winemaking properties in the Pauillac appellation.

(Though the names are similar, Château Latour is not related to Château La Tour Haut-Brion.)

The Chateau is owned by Groupe Artemis, who also own Christie’s auction house, Domaine d’Eugénie wine estate, and other luxury establishments. 

All three wines produced by the Chateau are Bordeaux red wines. Chateau Latour’s vineyard plots are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. 

Let’s find out how Chateau Latour started.

A Short History of Château Latour 

The rich history of the Chateau dates back over 600 years to the 14th Century.

During the historic Hundred Year War, a tower called Tor à Saint-Lambert was built on the land, and it stood guard over the Gironde River. The original tower was destroyed in 1453 at the Battle of Castillon. However, in the 1600s, a decorative circular tower was built and called La Tour de Saint-Lambert. This tower inspired the name of the wine estate. 

The Chateau was passed down through family connections from 1670 when it was bought by the de Chavannes family. It was passed on to the de Clauzel family in 1667 through marriage, and then again to the de Ségur family through marriage, who added Chateau Lafite to the property in the 18th century.

The wine estate stayed in the hands of the de Segur family until 1963, when it was sold to the Pearson group. The estate's new managers were innovative, and Chateau Latour became one of the first wineries to replace old oak vats with stainless steel vats.

Finally, in 1993, businessman François Pinault bought the famous Chateau Latour, and it became a part of his holding firm Artemis Groupe. 

Château Latour Vineyards and Winemaking

Château Latour’s prime terroir is the Bordeaux vineyard of 47 hectares known as “L'Enclos”. This portion of land is where the grapes for the Grand Vin are grown. 

Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal grape variety, taking up 80% of the acreage in the Enclos. The rest is planted with 18% Merlot, and only 2% is Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 

What’s unique about the winemaking process is that Chateau Latour wines undergo both primary fermentation and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel vats, to develop softness and roundness in the wine. 

The Terroir 

The  proximity of the Gironde River protects the vines from cold weather conditions. It also enables the grapes to ripen early, which is a benefit during harvest time. 

The Enclos has two different types of soils. The center of the Enclos is made up of gravel and clay. The soil around the edge of the Enclos consists of gravel and sand. 

These components allow the vine to grow deep and strong. The clay in the deep subsoil retains water. This means that even in a year with minimal rainfall, the vines will have access to water. 

Organic and Biodynamic Farming 

The Chateau’s journey to sustainable farming started in 2008 when they started to use horses to work the land. At the moment, seven horses are used to churn the soil in the Enclos.

The Chateau Latour vineyard received its organic wine certification in October 2018. The wine estate uses plant infusions, sulfur, and copper to fight disease and prevent insects from eating the vine. They also use 100% organic fertilizers. 

Over half of Chateau Latour’s vines are farmed using biodynamic techniques, depending on the weather and the lunar calendar. 

Also read:

• Check out the most coveted bottles of rich Chianti and sweet Rose wines!
• Or perhaps it’s white wine you’re after? Here are guides to elegant Sauvignon Blanc and aromatic Riesling wine.

Château Latour Wine

The Chateau’s badge of honor is their consistency - year after year, the winery produces exceptional wine.

These great wines are full of power, energy, and intense concentration. 

The fine wine of this Pauillac Chateau needs time to age. It should never be drunk too young, as it will ruin the flavors and experience of a bottle of Chateau Latour. The aromas of a Latour develop for decades. 

Let’s take a closer look at Chateau Latour’s wines.

1. Le Grand Vin de Château Latour

The Chateau’s Grand Vin is made exclusively from “Vieilles Vignes” or, in English, “Old Vines” that are a minimum of 60 years old. 

Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal grape used in the Bordeaux blend, taking up more than 90% of the wine content. The wine is deep, elegant, and concentrated. 

2. Les Forts de Latour

Les Forts de Latour is the Chateau’s second wine, created from the young vines in the Enclos and other vineyards. Because the vines used to create this wine have never been used in the Grand Vin, it is not strictly a second wine by definition. 

The wine was first created in 1966 but has only been annually produced since 1990. 

3. Le Pauillac de Latour

Chateau Latour was the very first wine estate to create a third wine in Bordeaux in 1965. The wine is made from the same young vines as the second wine, but using grapes not found suitable for Les Forts de Latour. 

This third wine is fresh and fruity and can be enjoyed a lot younger than the Grand Vin and second wine - after about five years. 

Further Reading:

Could the only Chateau to rival the elegance of Latour be the historic Châteauneuf du Pape?

Château Latour Serving and Food Pairings

To release the full potential of a Chateau Latour, it should be opened at the right age and served at 60° Fahrenheit. 

Chateau Latour pairs well with traditional meat dishes such as roast chicken, pork, and beef. The structure of this Bordeaux red goes well with dishes that are rich and flavorful - a good example would be beef brisket or a hearty pot roast. 

Is your mouth watering yet?

Keep reading to discover which bottles of Chateau Latour you should be on the lookout for!

1. Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1959

This deep burgundy wine is bold, with velvety tannins and excellent structure. The wine has aromas of cassis and smoke, with a rich and delicious palate of blackberry compote. 

Price of Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1959: $3028

2. Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1982

Here we have a beautifully aged Latour wine with high tannin levels and sharp acidity. This fine wine has a long finish, with flavors of fruit, tobacco, black currant, and cassis. 

Price of Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1982: $2366

3. Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1961

This is a bold and dry red wine, with a heady bouquet of oak, black currant, and smoke. It has a powerful palate and is intensely concentrated.

Price of Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1961: $5350

4. Les Fort de Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1966, $321

This second wine is rich and intense. It has aromas of dark fruit and cedar wood, with jammy flavors of blackberry compote. The older vintages of Les Fort de Latour are rare and a treat to drink. 

Price of Les Fort de Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1966: $321

5. Les Fort de Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1982

This vintage is an excellent example of a Bordeaux wine from the Medoc region. It is a mature Latour with flavors of dark fruit, smoke, leather, and blackcurrant. 

Price of Les Fort de Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1982: $356

6. Les Fort de Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1971

Though this vintage is from the 70s, it is vibrant and luscious. The color is a deep burgundy, and the nose has aromas of coffee, cassis, and graphite. Both the tannin levels and the acidity levels are high, but they blend beautifully with the feel of the wine.

Price of Les Fort de Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1971: $367

7. Le Pauillac de Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1973

This is a gorgeous vintage - a true testament to the Medoc region. It is bold and intense, with velvety tannins and aromas of chocolate, black fruit, and mushroom. 

Price of Le Pauillac de Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1973: $227

8. Le Pauillac de Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1965

This is the first third wine produced by Chateau Latour. It is past its prime now but still easily drinkable and a wonderful vintage to treasure. This red wine is almost exactly half Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a touch of Cabernet Franc.

Price of Le Pauillac de Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 1965: $281

9. Le Pauillac de Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 2000

This fine wine is delicious - a truly excellent third wine. Decant it for a minimum of 30 minutes before drinking. It has layered black fruit notes and aromas of chocolate, black currant, and cassis.

Price of Le Pauillac de Château Latour, Pauillac Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 2000: $151

Also Read: If it’s a sweet wine you’re after - try out Zinfandel! Or if you want to take a trip to the rolling hills of Italy, then Barbera wine might be the one for you!

Is Château Latour a Good Investment Wine?

One of the qualities that makes Chateau Latour such a great wine for investment is its ability to age well. The minimum amount of time a bottle of the Grand Vin needs is two decades, and it can be kept in a cellar for up to 60 years. 

However, the best vintages, like 1961, are capable of ageing for a century. 

Secondly, Chateau Latour does incredibly well at auctions. For example, at the Christie’s London Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits auction in December 2020, Chateau Latour was the 3rd top lot. 6 magnums sold for double their estimated sale price, at $141,355. 

Buying rare and expensive wine like Chateau Latour should be done with the utmost discretion and competence. 

Firstly, the older vintages aren’t easy to find in the market. What’s more - there are plenty of counterfeits available too!

So what’s the smartest way to invest in Chateau Latour and other premium wines?

Buy Château Latour and Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovest is a trusted, world-class wine investment platform. It allows you to invest in rare wines from the elegant wineries of Bordeaux to the sun-soaked Napa Valley. 

Whether you’re looking for a rare vintage of Chateau Latour or an exquisite Pomerol wine - Vinovest can make it happen. 

How Does it Work?

To get started, follow these 4 simple steps: 

1. Sign up
2. Fill in a quick questionnaire.
3. Add a minimum of $1,000 to your wine investment account.
4. Watch your wine portfolio grow from the comfort of your home - while you relish a glass of a Champagne cocktail like a Kir Royale!  

Benefits 

1. A Specialized Portfolio 

At Vinovest, a team of master sommeliers and data scientists will help you build a successful portfolio of fine wines - from Cabernet Sauvignons to a specialized bottle of organic wine. 

2. Best Prices

You can get your wine at below-retail prices because Vinovest sources its wines directly from the world’s top wineries and global wine exchanges. Vinovest can even get your wine directly from a trusted wine merchant. 

3. Easy Buying and Selling

With just a few clicks, you can buy bottles of the best vintages of Pouilly Fuisse wine, and whenever you’re ready to sell them - Vinovest will make sure it goes to the highest bidder! 

When you join Vinovest, you can even buy En Primeur wine!

4. Optimal Storage and Safety 

Every bottle of wine  you buy through Vinovest is safely stored in a controlled cellar environment with the right temperature, light, humidity, and vibration levels. The bonded warehouses where the wines are kept are in some of the best wine regions in the world. 

You can rest assured knowing that your bottles of Chateau Margaux and Mouton Rothschild are being taken care of well.

5. Authenticity and Provenance 

Vinovest makes sure that every bottle of Cabernet Franc or Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon you buy is the real thing - with their provenance traced and authenticity assured. 

6. Easy Delivery 

Whether you decide you want to drink your bottles, give them as a gift to a friend, or sell them to the highest bidder - Vinovest will make sure that they are delivered smoothly and safely. 

Ready to Expand Your Horizons to Investment-Grade Fine Wine?

It’s unique terroir, winemaking practices, superior quality, and age-worthy wines make Chateau Latour a highly sought-after brand to look out for if you’re building a wine portfolio.

Owning a bottle of this Bordeaux red wine is a privilege afforded by only the lucky few. You could easily be the one if you choose to buy it through a platform like Vinovest.

Sign up with Vinovest today and kickstart your wine investment journey!