2009 Chateau Latour Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl

Producer Profile

Château Latour

The legendary Château Latour is a First-Growth estate in the commune of Pauillac in the Médoc region, bordering Saint-Julien. It’s metres from the Gironde River, with a history as rich as its exclusive wines.

In 1331 a defensive tower called Tor à Saint-Lambert was built close to the Gironde as a fortification against the English army sailing up the estuary during the 100 Years’ War. This tower would later give its name to the estate. It was destroyed and eventually reconstructed in 1620 in a circular design, which adorns the labels of Château Latour’s famous wines.

Vines have existed on this land since the 14th century, but it was Alexandre de Ségur and his son – Prince of the Vines, Nicolas-Alexandre – who brought the estate’s wines to the world’s attention in the 18th century. A barrel of Latour was worth 20 times more than all other Bordeaux wines in 1767 and endorsed by Thomas Jefferson in 1787. From 1670 to 1963, the estate was owned by interconnected French families but then went under English ownership with Pearson Group, Harvey’s of Bristol and Allied Lyons. It returned to French hands in 1993 under François Pinault’s purchase through Groupe Artemis (Yves St. Laurent, Gucci and Christie’s Auction House).

Château Latour became the first estate of the first growths to transition to modern stainless-steel vats and today boasts an impressive, innovative and modern winery that rivals its impressive history. Their 78 hectares produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The prestige of the estate is evident in the exclusivity of the wine. A bottle of their Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot averages a cool US $793 retail, according to those nice people at Winesearcher.

OUR VERDICT

Not controversial to call Château Latour legendary. Quite simply a monumental wine in many vintages with a glorious past, present and no doubt future. They removed themselves from the en primeur system a few years back but the wine goes from strength to strength. A pinnace of Pauillac.