A guide to the legendary wines of Château Latour

In the commune of Pauillac, home to three of the five Bordeaux first growths, lies Château Latour, an estate famed for the phenomenal longevity and consistent quality of the wine that it has been producing for centuries

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The long history of Château Latour

The history of Château Latour can be traced back to 1378, the year in which court historian Jean Froissart wrote of a two-story tower called ‘La Tor de Sent-Maubert’ being captured by English soldiers during the Hundred Years War.

The history of winemaking at Latour, however, stretches much farther back, possibly all the way to the 12th century when tax exemptions for English markets meant a flourishing trade in wine between France and England.

Records suggest that in the 14th and 15th centuries up to two thirds of the famed L’ Enclos vineyard was already planted with vines — an unusually high percentage during a time when most estates had a mixture of vines and other crops.

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Château Latour 1900, 1 magnum per lot . Estimate: £8,000-12,000. Offered in Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits, Featuring Three Superb Private Collections on 10-11 December 2020 at Christie’s in London

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Château Latour 1919, 1 bottle per lot . Estimate: £700-900. Offered in Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits, Featuring Three Superb Private Collections on 10-11 December 2020 at Christie’s in London

A report in 1755 — 100 years before its 1855 Classification — showed Latour was already recognised as a producer of some of the best wine in the region, listing it as one of only four properties whose wines fetched more than 900 livres for a tonneau (the others being Haut-Brion, Lafite and Cantenac).

The wine at Latour was made entirely from ungrafted vines until phylloxera took a hold. Grafting of vines began from 1900, until by 1920 all the vines had been grafted onto American phylloxera-resistant rootstocks. Pre-1920 offerings in our sales are therefore extraordinarily rare examples of the product of ungrafted vines.

Ownership of Château Latour

While other estates have endured upheaval at the hands of new owners, the ownership of Château Latour has been remarkably consistent through the years. Marguerite Coutant inherited Latour in 1693 from her uncle François Chanevas, and it passed on to only three families until 1962, when the estate was bought by the Pearson group from Britain.

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Château Latour 1863, 1 bottle per lot . Sold for £15,600 on 28-29 November 2018 at Christie’s in London

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Château Latour 1926, 1 magnum per lot . Sold for £9,000 on 28-29 November 2018 at Christie’s in London

The sale marked a period of great change at the estate. Huge investments were made in the planting of new vines, the replacement of old machinery and the introduction of new stainless-steel vats — changes which many Bordeaux estates have now adopted, but which were pioneering at the time.

A second wine, Les Forts de Latour , was introduced in 1966, followed by a third, the Pauillac de Latour , in 1973. Minuscule amounts of rosé were also produced purely for private consumption.

Considerable energy has been invested into organic and biodynamic viticulture and improving the winemaking process

Purchased by François Pinault in 1993, Château Latour has gone from strength to strength under Frédéric Engerer, who has been President since 1998. A no-expense-spared refurbishment has seen major reconstruction in the cellars and the construction of a brand new vat room and tasting room. Considerable energy has also been invested into converting to organic and biodynamic viticulture and improving the winemaking process.

Latour’s unbeatable terroir

Latour possesses some of the best soils in Bordeaux. Gently sloping, the gravelly surface provides exceptional drainage and consists of both large stones and small pebbles. Beneath this is a moist subsoil composed of marl, chalk and clay, which provides nourishment to the roots and encourages them to dig deeper, an important factor when considering that it is the oldest vines with the deepest roots that are often considered to produce the finest fruit. This is crucial in hot years, such as 2003.

Of the 92 hectares of vines which comprise the vineyards of Château Latour, the 47 hectares around the Château are known as the ‘Enclos’. The best and oldest vines of the estate are to be found here, in what is considered to be one of the best vineyards in the whole of Bordeaux.

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Château Latour 1961, 6 magnums per lot . Estimate: £30,000-40,000. Offered in Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits, Featuring Three Superb Private Collections on 10-11 December 2020 at Christie’s in London

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Château Latour 1990, 6 magnums per lot . Estimate: £6,000-7,000. Offered in Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits, Featuring Three Superb Private Collections on 10-11 December 2020 at Christie’s in London

Consistency — vintage after vintage

The wines produced at this estate possess extraordinary longevity. When Harry Waugh, a long time director of the estate, tasted the 1865 vintage more than a century later, he found that it possessed ‘an astonishingly deep colour and such a bouquet! A great big fellow, full of fruit and absolutely fabulous for a centenarian’.

This longevity is due to the length of time it can take for wines from this estate to mature, especially in the strongest vintages. As a result, these wines will more often than not benefit hugely from decanting — their initial demeanour upon opening may be rather austere, and decanting allows them to show the true breadth of their potential.

It is the estate’s ability to turn out exceptional wines in vintages that are deemed to have been off-years that marks it out from its peers

Although Latour makes legendary wines in the best vintages, it is this estate’s consistent ability to turn out exceptional wines in vintages that are deemed to have been off-years that marks it out from its peers. Vintages such as 1963 and 1977 are excellent illustrations of this, the latter being an example of a cold vintage during which few producers were able to make good wine.

This is thanks to the vineyard’s extraordinary terroir and climate, with the proximity of the vines to the nearby estuary meaning that they benefit from its temperature-moderating effects, which in extremely cold (1991) and extremely hot (2003) years has proved to be a lifeline for the vines.

The 1991 vintage is another example of the sheer brilliance of the wine produced at this estate, with Robert Parker describing it as a wine of ‘concentration and class’ in a vintage in which few were able to produce good wine. Some of the finest vintages produced at Latour include 1949, 1961, 1982, 1995, 2009 and 2010.

4-chateau_latour_2000_2000_1_imperial_per_lot

Château Latour 2000, 1 imperial per lot . Estimate: £4,000-5,000. Offered in Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits, Featuring Three Superb Private Collections on 10-11 December 2020 at Christie’s in London

The Malbec family was responsible for the winemaking at Latour for three generations. During their tenure, the Malbecs collected an impressive range of Latour with vintages dating back into the 19th century.

Denis Malbec, the wine-maker throughout the 1990s, ensured that all the older bottles in his cellar were reconditioned where appropriate, being re-corked, re-capsuled and re-labelled under the controlled conditions of the Latour cellars where the bottles had started their long journey to maturity.

Tragically, Denis was killed in a road accident in Yountville, Napa, in 2016; the wine world mourned the loss of such a talented and versatile figure.

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Château Latour 1961, 3 magnums per lot . Sold for £55,200 on 28-29 November 2018 at Christie’s in London

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Château Latour 1985, 6 magnums per lot . Sold for £5,400 on 28-29 November 2018 at Christie’s in London

In November 2018, a selection of the wines from the collection were sold at Christie’s in London, allowing new owners to enjoy some of the famous and fabled vintages from the illustrious history of Pauillac's most legendary vineyard.

All the bottles in the sale were collected for inspection from the family cellar, which is a stone’s throw from the boundary of the Latour vineyard, and then transported in controlled conditions to Christie’s cellars in the UK.

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For the entirety of their history prior to this shipment, the bottles moved no more than half a mile, resting either at the château or in the family cellar. Most were packed in new wooden cases, the majority supplied at the château, either at the time of purchase or reconditioning.

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Château Latour

Château Latour

Château Latour is a wine estate in Pauillac , part of the Haut-Medoc sub-region on the Left Bank of Bordeaux . The estate’s history dates back to at least the 14th century, though vineyards were not established here until the 17th century. The estate is located at the southern edge of the Pauillac appellation, bordering the St Julien vineyards of Château Léoville Las Cases . Latour is one of the five First Growths of the 1855 classification, occupying the top tier alongside Châteaux Lafite Rothschild , Margaux , Haut-Brion , and Mouton Rothschild .

Latour is owned by François Pinault, one of France’s wealthiest people. It forms the jewel in the crown of Pinault’s Artémis Domaines, itself part of the larger Groupe Artémis. Other wineries within the portfolio include Clos de Tart and Domaine d’Eugénie in Burgundy ; Château Grillet in the Rhône Valley ; Champagne Jacquesson ; Eisele Vineyard in California’s Napa Valley ; and Maisons et Domaines Henriot , which includes holdings in Champagne , Burgundy , and Oregon .

The day-to-day running of Latour is entrusted to the dynamic Frédéric Engerer. Under his stewardship, a major programme of investment has taken place. In 2012, Latour announced that it would no longer offer its wines as part of the Bordeaux En Primeur campaign. Instead, the wines are kept at the estate until such a time as they are ready to be opened and enjoyed. They are then offered through the La Place de Bordeaux distribution system several years after the vintage.

There are three wines produced here. Château Latour, the grand vin, is produced from vines immediately surrounding the château, from the vineyard area known as L’Enclos. Les Forts de Latour, the second wine, was created in 1966. It is now regarded as a great wine in its own right, certainly worthy of Classified Growth status. A third wine, Pauillac de Latour, is usually the product of young vines.

The vineyard is planted to a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon , along with some Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot .

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Château Latour Martillac

Visits & tastings

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Maintaining a strong reputation for a very warm welcome,

the team will welcome you all year long,

from Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 6pm,

for the discovery of both the history and the wines of the estate.

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CLASSIC TOURS

Discovery tour.

« Discover Château Latour-Martillac through a guided wine tour. The visit of the vineyard and the cellars will be completed by a convivial tasting of two wines. »

  • Duration: approx. 1h15
  • Languages: French, English, German, Italian
  • Tasting of 2 wines: Grand Cru Classé de Graves Red + second white wine
  • From 1 to 30 people
  • Reservation at least 12 hours in advance
  • 18€ per adult, VAT included
  • Private tour

« In couple ou with friends, explore the Graves terroir and discover all the secrets behind the elaboration of the white and red wines of the estate. »

  • Tasting of 2 wines: Grand Cru Classé de Graves Red & White
  • 25€ per adult, VAT included
  • Option: vintage-year tasting, with extra charge. On request only.

SENSORY TOURS

Experience tours.

« Château Latour-Martillac invites you to a gourmet and convivial escapade through a guided tour and through a tasting of our wines with French cheeses or fine chocolates. »

Experience “ Wine and cheese ”

  • Duration: approx. 1h30
  • Tasting of 2 wines: Grand Cru Classé de Graves Red & White with 6 French cheeses.
  • From 2 to 15 people
  • Only by appointment
  • Reservation at least 48 hours in advance
  • 35€ per adult, VAT included

Experience “ Wine and chocolate ”

  • Tasting of 4 wines: Grand Cru Classé de Graves Red & White + Second wine Red & White with 5 fine chocolates.

“ BEST OF WINE TOURISM ” TOUR

Art and history.

« Château Latour-Martillac invites history buffs and art lovers to an incomparable discovery of the estate and its history. An immense journey through time and space, where wine fuses with art and architecture. »

  • Duration: approx. 2 hours
  • Tasting of 3 wines: Grand Cru Classé Red and White + a blind tasting
  • Reservation at least 24 hours in advance

EXCLUSIVE TOURS

Prestige tour.

« The Prestige tour is an invitation to (re)discover the white wines of the estate through the visit of our oldest plot, and through an intimate and surpising tasting of our white wines with caviar. »

  • Languages: French, English
  • Tasting of 3 wines: 1 vintage of Grand Cru Classé de Graves Red + the 2 white wines of the estate with caviars produced in Aquitaine.
  • From 2 to 7 people
  • Reservation at least one week in advance
  • From 80€ per adult, VAT included
  • Deposit: 30% when booking. See cancellation conditions.

Trilogy tour

« Visit the estate and discover our red wines through a vertical tasting of three historic vintages of Château Latour-Martillac. »

  • From Tuesday to Saturday
  • Tasting: Grand Cru Classé White + 3 exceptional vintages of Château Latour-Martillac, served with appetizers in harmony with our wines.
  • From 2 to 12 people
  • From 95€ per adult, VAT included

HELLO SUMMER!

Picnic in the park.

“Extend your stay in Château Latour-Martillac around a friendly picnic in the sumptuous park of the property.”

  • Local picnic with seasonal products
  • Menu: standard or vegetarian. Vegetarian or vegan options on request.
  • Smoked fish or smoked duck, vegetable spreads, cheeses, coffee/cannelé
  • 1 glass of wine / adult (second wine, white or red)
  • Picnic on the grass or seated lunch
  • From Tuesday to Saturday, from May to October
  • From 2 to 10 people. Group on request.
  • Only by appointment. Reservation at least 72 hours in advance
  • 35€ per person, VAT included
  • Guided tour in addition, before or after the lunch

FLYING VISIT

« Through a short visit and a tasting of the Grand Cru Classé, discover – or rediscover – the unique aspects of Château Latour-Martillac. »

  • Duration: approx. 30 minutes
  • Tasting of 1 wine: Grand Cru Classé de Graves Red or White
  • From 1 to 8 people
  • Flying Visit
  • Without appointment, depending on availability
  • 10€ per adult, VAT included

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General terms and conditions of sale

All our tours are by reservation only (subject to availability), either online on our website via the reservation form, by phone at +33 (0)5 57 97 71 11 or by email at [email protected] • To finalize your reservation, a name and a phone number are required. A confirmation email can be sent at your request, in which case we will need an email address. Château Latour-Martillac undertakes not to divulge this information. It remains confidential and it will only be used by our services to process your reservation • Payment for the tour (themed tours excluded) must be made on site, on the day, before or after the tour, by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), cheque or cash • Payment by cheque can only be made by cheque in €uro drawn on a French bank. Cheques should be sent to the attention of Cercle de Martillac • Our prices are quoted in €uros, VAT included and per person. They are valid from January 1 to December 31, 2024 • For our “Prestige” and “Trilogy” themed tours, a deposit of 30% is required. The deposit is refunded if the cancellation is made at least 72 hours before the tour. For refund outside the European Union, bank transaction fees of €40 (incl. VAT) will be charged to the customer • Visits are free of charge for children and under-18. In accordance with the French Public Health Code, the consumption of alcohol is reserved for adults over the age of 18. Wine tasting is therefore forbidden to under-18 • Spittoons are provided for adult attendees of each tasting. Château Latour-Martillac undertakes to make participants aware of the risks associated with alcohol consumption and disclaims all liability for excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, please drink responsibly. It should also be noted that the consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, even in small quantities, can have serious consequences for the child’s health • Tours are available in English, French, German and Italian. Any request for a visit with a translator will be considered and invoiced as a private visit • For organizational reasons, we ask you to respect the schedule. In the event of lateness, we reserve the right to modify or shorten the tour in order to finish at the originally scheduled time. Any delay of 30 minutes or more will result in cancellation, without refund or compensation. If you wish to cancel or postpone a visit, please inform us by phone or e-mail as soon as possible • If you wish to book a themed visit with a wine and food pairing or purchase a picnic basket, please check the list of ingredients beforehand and inform us of any allergies, intolerances or special dietary restrictions when booking, otherwise Château Latour-Martillac cannot be held responsible. In the event of reported food allergies or intolerances, Château Latour-Martillac will do its utmost to offer a suitable alternative • Gift vouchers for a tour and tasting are also available. Requests should be made by telephone at +33 (0)5 57 97 71 11 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Once paid, by credit card or bank transfer, the Gift Voucher can be given to you in person at the Château Latour-Martillac reception desk, or sent by email or posted on specific request. The Gift Voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. It cannot be exchanged, resold or refunded, even partially • The estate is open all year round, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, closed on Sundays and public holidays. The shop is open all year round, on the usual days and at the usual times, without reservation. The estate is accessible to disabled people • The team is at your disposal to respond to your requests for tailor-made tours or personalized receptions. Send your request directly to [email protected].

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The Best Vintages of Château Latour for Collectors

One of the best vintages of Château Latour is the 1982

The 1982 vintage is one of the best vintages of Château Latour in history.

MENTIONED IN THIS POST:

  • -2010 Château Latour
  • -2009 Château Latour
  • -1996 Château Latour
  • -1995 Château Latour
  • -1982 Château Latour

The best vintages of Château Latour are among the longest-lived wines in the world. While certain wines like fine port and Tokaji are known to age for 100 years or more, it’s rare to find a red Bordeaux blend with the same aging potential. Château Latour is one of these extraordinary wines. For instance, the 1961 vintage—considered one of the greatest in the estate’s history—continues to develop in complexity even to this day. When Master of Wine Jancis Robinson tried the 1961 vintage a few years ago, she said, “I can hardly believe the drinking dates I am suggesting for this wine! Drink through 2040.” Other critics, such as James Suckling, formerly of Wine Spectator,  and John Gilman of View from the Cellar,  predict that the vintage will continue to drink well through 2100. 

However, not all vintages of Château Latour are this incredibly long-lived. Although these wines are reliably high in quality, there are only a handful of legendary vintages with similar aging potential and value. In this guide, you’ll discover the best vintages of Château Latour; these are the wines that received the very highest scores from critics and that will continue to evolve in flavor and increase in value for decades. 

Château Latour: One of the Greatest Bordeaux First Growths 

Château Latour is one of the oldest and best-regarded estates in all of Bordeaux. The estate is located in Pauillac on a hillside with significant variations in elevation. In fact, of all of the first growth estates in Bordeaux, Château Latour’s terrain is the most uneven and diverse in soil composition. The variations in terrain and soil produce wines of exceptional complexity, as each parcel influences fruit growth in different ways. Of these parcels, the Enclos terroir is the finest and most historically significant (the estate has maintained it since 1794). All of the grapes used in the grand vin are grown in this specific terroir because it produces wines of immense power and elegance. 

What makes this terroir so high in quality is its deep and varied soil composition. At the very heart of Enclos, there is a mix of tremendously dense clay (called argile gonflante) and gravel, which is fast-draining. Water and nutrients are embedded in the dense clay deep underground, where the vine roots must grow deep to reach them. The grapes that grow here are very ripe and concentrated in flavor, as the vines are water-stressed during the summer due to the fast-draining gravel. Château Latour plants most of its Cabernet Sauvignon here at the center of the terroir, as this grape thrives in warm, dry conditions. Some of these vines are nearly 100 years old and produce incredibly complex-tasting fruit. By contrast, along the outskirts of Enclos, the soil is a mixture of marl and clay. The marl is colder and denser than the gravel at the center of the terroir, so the grapes grown here tend to be higher in acidity and ripen more slowly. Château Latour grows small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot in this area which are blended into the grand vin. 

Château Latour uses biodynamic farming because winemakers believe this makes the wine a purer reflection of the terroir.

The final grand vin blend is a perfect balance between acidity and sweetness. The Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot planted on the outskirts of Enclos give the wine firm tannins and tart acid, both of which also increase its aging potential. Yet, the best vintages of Château Latour don’t taste overly tannic or astringent because the Cabernet Sauvignon delivers complex, ripe fruit flavors that soften the tannins and acid. 

But terroir isn’t solely responsible for Château Latour’s critical acclaim. This producer is also meticulous about its winemaking practices. The estate uses biodynamic farming because winemakers believe this makes the wine a purer reflection of the terroir. The wine is also vinified in steel to preserve the natural flavors and later aged in 100-percent new French oak, which adds subtle flavors of spice and vanilla to the blend. 

All of these factors result in a wine that is full of character. The dark, powerful fruit is complemented by an elegant perfume that unfolds in layers. Moreover, Château Latour manages to produce wines like this year after year. It’s rare to find a poor vintage from this producer. Still, some vintages are a cut above the rest. 

The Best Recent Vintages of Château Latour 

Château Latour’s grand vin is one of the most consistent wine labels on the market today. According to average critic scores on wine-searcher , since 1998, every single vintage of the grand vin has received a score of at least 92 points. The 2018 vintage already received high praise from wine enthusiasts during en primeur week and is also expected to rank among the best vintages of Château Latour. 

However, eight young vintages stand out for being particularly age-worthy and high in quality. These are the best recent vintages of Château Latour that received scores of at least 96 points from critics:

  • 2016: Hold.  
  • 2015: Hold. 
  • 2014: Hold. 
  • 2010: Hold. 
  • 2009 : Hold (may be ready in a few years). 
  • 2005: Drink or hold. 
  • 2003: Drink or hold. 
  • 2000: Hold (may be ready in a few years). 

If you’re looking to invest in young Château Latour, keep in mind that most of these wines will require at least 15 to 20 years of age before they begin to reach maturity. The very best vintages of Château Latour could ultimately age for 100 years or more. It’s a great wine to pass down to future generations. 

Winemakers now prefer to use more Merlot grapes to ensure that the final blend has just the right amount of acidity.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the flavor of the grand vin has changed slightly in recent years, so if you’re used to drinking older vintages, you may notice a difference. Winemakers are adding slightly less Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and have increased the amount of Merlot in the blend. This is because temperatures have risen in Bordeaux in recent years. Winemakers now prefer to use more Merlot grapes—which are grown in the cooler marl and clay soil—to ensure that the final blend has just the right amount of acidity, even when the weather is warmer and drier than usual.

And finally, if you plan on buying young vintages of Château Latour, you may have to wait longer than usual to get your hands on these bottles. The estate decided to halt all en primeur futures sales starting with the 2012 vintage. You can still buy these wines after release, but you won’t be able to secure your investments early on along with the rest of your en primeur Bordeaux . 

Top-Quality Older Château Latour Vintages 

One thing that makes Château Latour wines special is that they can last for many decades and still taste as vibrant as they did upon release. If you don’t have time to wait for a young vintage to mature or you want to buy a birth year wine for an upcoming celebration, older vintages of Château Latour are great options. 

A trustworthy vendor will inspect every bottle for authenticity to ensure that you won’t become a victim of wine fraud.

The following older vintages received an average score of at least 96 points from top critics: 

  • 1996 : Drink. 
  • 1995 : Drink or hold. 
  • 1990 : Drink or hold. 
  • 1982: Drink. 
  • 1975: Drink or hold. 
  • 1971: Drink or hold. 
  • 1970: Drink or hold. 
  • 1966: Drink or hold. 
  • 1964: Drink or hold. 
  • 1962: Drink or hold. 
  • 1961: Hold (it’s drinking well now, but still evolving) 
  • 1959: Drink. 
  • 1955: Drink. 
  • 1949: Drink or hold. 
  • 1948: Drink. 
  • 1945: Drink. 

One problem with collecting the best older vintages of Château Latour is that many of these wines are difficult to find. As time goes on, the number of available bottles of Château Latour decreases and collectors may be left with bottles that have less-than-pristine provenance. Since counterfeit bottles of legendary vintages are common, if you’re unable to prove provenance or verify that the wine has been stored correctly, it’s wise to steer clear. A trustworthy vendor will inspect every bottle for authenticity to ensure that you won’t become a victim of wine fraud and will also look for signs of damage, like a leaking cork.  

When to Drink the Best Vintages of Château Latour

While tasting notes can give you a general sense of how long to age your Château Latour, when in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of holding your bottles. While you can drink these wines young, you won’t experience the true power and complexity that they develop with time. Because Château Latour is so rare and sought-after, it would be a shame to waste a tasting on a bottle that’s still a little too green. As a general rule, hold all vintages of Château Latour until they are at least 15 years old (and at least 20 years old for the best vintages). You can also check the ideal drinking window using an online wine app that keeps track of the latest tasting notes from professional critics and casual collectors. 

Older vintages are more delicate and should only be decanted for a few minutes.

When you’re ready to drink your wine, decant it very carefully . Vintages that are between 20 and 30 years old can withstand two or three hours of decanting (the younger the wine is, the longer you can decant it). However, older vintages are more delicate and should only be decanted for a few minutes, just long enough to separate the solid sediment from the rest of the wine. 

Investing in the best vintages of Château Latour is an incredibly rewarding endeavor for serious Bordeaux collectors. Although these wines are hard to find and require careful storage , the effort is always worthwhile because Château Latour wines are among the most delicious and multilayered in the world. 

Whether you are starting your high-end wine collection or adding to an established portfolio, Vinfolio is your partner in buying , selling , and professional storage . Contact us today  to get access to the world’s finest wine.

Author:  Vinfolio Staff

At Vinfolio, we help our clients buy, sell, store, and manage their most treasured bottles of wine. But in our spare time, we’re just a group of passionate and slightly obsessed oenophiles--we love sharing a great glass of vintage Champagne, followed by a Burgundy, and then a Bordeaux, to get things started. We’re always obsessing over the latest (and oldest) vintages, and we want to share that knowledge and passion with our readers.

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Join Dick and Angel every week to catch-up on topical stories from the Chateau. Ask questions, get a Dick Tip or an Angel Delight and take a trip down memory lane!

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"Only so much of our story can be told on the telly, and as life at the Chateau continues to evolve, we will share what it takes to build a forever home. This year, there’s even more fun to have as we kick-start our newest project searching for the UK’s ultimate  Jack of All Trades! We can’t wait!”

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  1. CHÂTEAU LATOUR 1986

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  2. Chateau La Tour Carnet 2011 Haut Medoc Grand Cru Classe (Red wine

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  3. Château la Tour Carnet : réservez et payez en ligne votre visite à Bordeaux

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  4. Buy Château La Tour Carnet 4ème Grand Cru Classé 2020 (lot: 116425)

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  5. Chateau La Tour Carnet (Futures Pre-Sale) 2019

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  6. Château La Tour Carnet Tour, Saint-Laurent-Médoc

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  1. Our first ROOM TOUR of the Chateau!!

  2. ABANDONED CHATEAU begins its restoration journey

  3. The Grand French Chateau Tour 🏰 The Chateau Chronicles

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  5. Dismantling the highest point of the chateau, will it hold up?

  6. 2023 Chateau Walk-through, S4 E15

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  1. Château Latour

    Voir la vidéo. Château Latour | Premier Grand Cru Classé à Pauillac, Médoc, Grand Vin Rouge de Bordeaux.

  2. Château Latour

    The tower at Château Latour. Château Latour is a French wine estate, rated as a First Growth under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.Latour lies at the very southeastern tip of the commune of Pauillac in the Médoc region to the north-west of Bordeaux, at its border with Saint-Julien, and only a few hundred metres from the banks of the Gironde estuary.. The estate produces three red wines in all.

  3. Le Grand Vin

    Château Latour's Grand Vin is made exclusively from "vieilles vignes", an average of 60 years-old, in the Enclos. Gravettes, Sarmentier, Pièce de Château... these are the names of some of the finest plots that express the character of the terroir and forge the wine's identity every year.

  4. A guide to the legendary wines of Château Latour

    The best and oldest vines of the estate are to be found here, in what is considered to be one of the best vineyards in the whole of Bordeaux. Château Latour 1961, 6 magnums per lot. Estimate: £30,000-40,000. Offered in Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits, Featuring Three Superb Private Collections on 10-11 December 2020 at Christie's in London.

  5. Chateau Latour

    Our party of 4 was fortunate to secure a tour and tasting at Chateau Latour, thanks to our guide, Peter Bowers of Bowers Wine Tours. It was wonderful learning about the history of Latour, visiting the vineyards to see first-hand the soils that produce this delicious wine, seeing the wine-making facilities and learning about the many decisions that go into producing the wines.

  6. Learn about Chateau Latour Pauillac, Complete Guide

    Chateau Latour is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Latour is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes.

  7. 01.In the beginning

    A Superb location. Château Latour is located in the heart of the Médoc wine region, about 50 km north-west of Bordeaux, where the legend of the vineyards of Bordeaux began. The château's prime terroir, l'Enclos, overlooks the Gironde estuary: it is the river and the ocean that, over the centuries, have given the vineyard its geological ...

  8. Château Latour 2017 Pauillac Rating and Review

    By far the largest, the most important, and one of the best French wine regions, both for high-end wines and for bargains, is Bordeaux. Great reds from the renowned chateaus are what make the headlines, but Bordeaux is so big, that there is plenty of choice.

  9. Château Latour

    Chateau Latour. Château Latour is one of Bordeaux's - and the world's - most famous wine producers. It is situated in the southeast corner of the Pauillac commune on the border of Saint-Julien, in the Médoc region. Rated as a First Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, it has become one of the most sought-after and expensive wine ...

  10. Chateau Latour, Pauillac, France

    Chateau Latour. Pauillac, France. Avg Price (ex-tax) $ 788 / 750ml. Red - Savory and Classic. 4.5 from 1601 User Ratings. 97 / 100 from 752 Critic Reviews. Critics have scored this as one of the top 5 Medoc wines: The Wine Advocate gave the 2023 vintage a score of 95.

  11. Chateau La Tour de By Medoc Bordeaux, Complete Guide

    The best vintages of Chateau La Tour de By are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009 and 2005. To produce the wine of Chateau La Tour de By, vinification takes place in a combination of temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks and oak, wood vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat.

  12. Explore the Wine range of Château Latour

    Château Latour. Château Latour is a wine estate in Pauillac, part of the Haut-Medoc sub-region on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. The estate's history dates back to at least the 14th century, though vineyards were not established here until the 17th century. The estate is located at the southern edge of the Pauillac appellation, bordering the St ...

  13. Chateau Latour 2012

    Chateau Latour 2012 from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France - Ex-Chateau ReleaseOn the nose, this Château Latour is pure with a round andelegant fruitiness. The mouth is silky with great density and avibrant fruit. The tan...

  14. Château Latour

    The Pauillac is made primarily from young vines, growing on the less prestigious terroirs in the vineyard, and from wines that do not meet the selection criteria for Forts de Latour (specific to each vintage). About 20% new barrels are used in the vinification of the Pauillac, the precise proportion varying depending on the characteristics of ...

  15. 1982 Chateau Latour, Pauillac, France

    1982 Chateau Latour. Pauillac, France. Avg Price (ex-tax) $ 2,501 / 750ml. Red - Savory and Classic. 5 from 39 User Ratings. 98 / 100 from 15 Critic Reviews. Critic tasting note: "A spell-binding example of the most, consistently stunning wine from the legendary 82 vintage. Everything here is on target, in-place and balanced.

  16. Visits and tasting

    Duration: approx. 2 hours. Languages: French, English, German, Italian. Tasting of 3 wines: Grand Cru Classé Red and White + a blind tasting. From 2 to 15 people. Group tour. Only by appointment. Reservation at least 24 hours in advance. 35€ per adult, VAT included.

  17. Chateau La Tour Carnet 2020

    Chateau La Tour Carnet 2020 from Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France - Chateau La Tour Carnet 2020 is a very deep, with a brilliant ruby red color. The first nose is very fruity with notes of ripe fruit, in particular blackcurrant ...

  18. Wine Legend: Château Latour 1961

    A legend because…. Poor fruit-set and a late frost in May 1961 in Bordeaux meant that the 1961s were very concentrated, with the vines channelling all their energy into a small number of surviving and thick-skinned bunches. The wines' scarcity - every château experienced major losses - also added to the renown of the vintage.

  19. Château La Tour Carnet, Haut-Médoc, 4ème Cru Classé, 2019

    September fine wine releases on La Place de Bordeaux 2023; Napa Valley Cabernet 2020; Bordeaux 2020 in bottle; March releases on the Place de Bordeaux 2023; Search All Wine Reviews; ... Château La Tour Carnet, Haut-Médoc, 4ème Cru Classé, 2019. My Wines. Single Tasting; Producer. Château La Tour Carnet. Vintage. 2019. Wine Type. Still ...

  20. Château Latour

    The oldest document mentioning Latour dates from 1331 and is an authorization granted to Gaucelme de Castillon by Lord Pons to build a fortified tower in the parish of Saint Maubert. Château Latour then appears in the Jean Froissart's « Chronicles » in 1378. This was the time of the Hundred Years War and the « Tour de Saint Maubert » was a ...

  21. The Best Vintages of Château Latour for Collectors

    The best vintages of Château Latour are among the longest-lived wines in the world. While certain wines like fine port and Tokaji are known to age for 100 years or more, it's rare to find a red Bordeaux blend with the same aging potential. Château Latour is one of these extraordinary wines. For instance, the 1961 vintage—considered one of the greatest in the estate's history ...

  22. Vintages

    An exceptional drought paralysed the grapes' growth, drying up the lower leaves and resulting in a small harvest. In the vats, a concentrated wine was obtained with high levels of alcohol and a very intense flavour. Very strongly coloured wines after a difficult vinification.

  23. Home of Escape to the Chateau

    Welcome to The Chateau. The official home of Escape to The Chateau by Dick and Angel Strawbridge. The CHATEAU SHOP. Enrich Your Everyday. From cosmetic bags to desk pads, cushions to kitchen knives. Make simple, everyday life ceremonious with beautiful items inspired by the stories of The Chateau.