Château Latour

Château Latour

The origins of a Premier Grand Cru Classé

The oldest records mentioning theChâteau Latourdate from 1331. It was, in fact, the authorization for the construction of the famous tower that now adorns the bottle label. At the time, the “Saint-Maubert Tower" is a stronghold guarding the estuary. The estate quickly became a joint lordship, and its lands were cultivated using mixed farming methods. They produced good wine, but its storage conditions were still precarious. The operation became increasingly direct, and following successive marriages and inheritances, Latour fell into the hands of thePrince of the Vines”,Nicolas-Alexandre de SégurLike his father before him, he expanded the estate, which now only grew vines. Fueled by the growth of a wealthy English bourgeoisie with a taste for fine wines, theChâteau Latouracquires considerable recognition. His exceptional character will earn him the rank ofPremier Grand Cru Classéin the imperial classification of 1855

A new era

Between innovation and organic farming

Over time, the heirs of theSégur familyThey formed a civil society which remained in charge of the estate until 1962. At that point, the shares were bought by two large British groups.PearsonAndAllied LyonsIn 1993,François Pinaultbuys back Allied Lyons' shares through its holding companyArtemisand has since benefited from the position of majority shareholder. Upon his arrival, Mr. Pinault completely revitalized the Château, which was beginning to lose its momentum. He initiated extensive renovations: the cellars, the vat room, and the winemaking systems were entirely refurbished during these five years of work. Significant changes were also made to the vineyard, including a conversion to...organic farmingfor all plots. Upon obtaining the label,Château Latourwill become the firstPremier Grand Cru Classéto be produced using organic farming methods. This decision to better respect the environment was made by Mr. Pinault, for whom this transformation was a natural step.

Latour Wines

Local produce and know-how

The origin of the wines ofChâteau Latouris located the fabulous terroir ofPauillacThe very essence ofMedocfound on these lands: well-drained gravelly slopes with a lovely exposure. True to its terroir, the grape varieties planted are predominantlyCabernet Sauvignon(80%), 15% ofMerlotand vines ofCabernet FrancandPetit Verdotin a small proportion (5%). Of the 90 hectares that make up the vineyard, 47 hectares of historic vines located around the château produce theGrand Vin de LatourThis exceptional plot of land with its clay subsoil is called l'Enclosure'This Grand Vin also received a score of 100/100 fromRobert ParkerOn several occasions: 1961, 1982, 2003, 2009 and 2010. Since 1966, Château Latour has also produced a second wine, no less carefully crafted:The Forts of LatourNote that Château Latour is the only Premier Grand Cru Classé that no longer sells its wines en primeur.