Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Château Latour
The most powerful and longest-lived of the First Growths, Latour is renowned for monumental structure and an exceptional capacity to age.
History
Latour takes its name from a medieval fortified tower that once stood near the estate. It sits on one of the world's great terroirs in southern Pauillac, where gravel over clay soils run down towards the Gironde estuary. Since 1993 it has been owned by François Pinault through his Artémis group.
In 2012 Latour made one of the most significant commercial decisions in modern Bordeaux by withdrawing from the en primeur system, choosing instead to release its wines only when they are closer to drinking maturity.
Style and Character
Latour is the most brooding, powerful and intense of the First Growths. It is built for the very long term, with dense structure, depth and concentration that frequently place it among the finest wines of any given vintage. Even in lesser years it tends to produce a serious, ageworthy wine.
INVESTMENT NOTES
Why collectors and investors pay attention
Latour's decision to leave en primeur and release later means its wines reach the market already aged, which changes how they trade but underlines the estate's confidence in their longevity. Its power and consistency make it a blue-chip holding, and the late-release policy can reduce some of the early speculative volatility seen with other First Growths.
Key Wines
Château Latour (the Grand Vin)
The flagship First Growth.
Les Forts de Latour
The second wine, itself a serious ageworthy wine.
Pauillac de Latour
The third wine.