Château Latour

Awards & Recognition

A recognized First Growth since the 1855 classification, alongside Lafite, Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Mouton Rothschild
The 1990 vintage named Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 1993
Exceptional consistency: celebrated for quality even in challenging vintages, thanks to estuarine microclimate and terroir precision
Fully certified biodynamic since 2018, leading among First Growths

About Château Latour

Château Latour is a legendary Premier Grand Cru Classé estate in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, renowned for producing some of the world’s most powerful and enduring Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines. Occupying approximately 78 ha of prime vineyard—including the fortified, walled 47 ha enclave known as l’Enclos—the estate benefits from deep gravel soils over clay and limestone, with the Gironde estuary moderating climate for consistency and longevity.

Since traces of viticulture there date back to 1331, Latour has evolved through Ségur ownership, British control, and is now part of François Pinault’s Artémis domain, maintaining excellence under modern leadership

History

Origins & the Ségur Era (14th Century–1855)

Founded around a medieval tower built in 1331, Château Latour became estate under the de Ségur family in the 17th century, gaining renown under Nicolas‑Alexandre, the “Prince des Vignes,” who also owned Lafite and Mouton Rothschild (The Wine Cellar Insider). Its prestige secured Premier Grand Cru status in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855

Modernisation & British Investment (1963–1989)

In the 1960s, Latour became the first First Growth to install stainless-steel vats, renovate cellars, and introduce a second wine (Les Forts de Latour) (thelondonwinecellar.com). British firms Pearson and Harvey managed the estate, funding vast modernization efforts.

Return to French Ownership & Current Era (1993–Present)

In 1993, François Pinault’s Artémis acquired Latour, restoring it to French proprietorship and investing in biodynamic certification—today, Latour is fully organic and biodynamic certified

Wine Styles

Grand Vin (Château Latour)

Blended typically of ~75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, with minor Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the Grand Vin is aged ~18 months in 100% new French oak. It is known for structured tannins, deep black fruit, graphite and pencil lead, with prodigious aging potential and excellence across both great and lesser vintages

Second Wine – Les Forts de Latour

Produced since 1966, this is generally a blend of ~70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, matured in new oak and offering a more generous but still powerful profile

Third Wine – Pauillac de Château Latour

Launched in 1989, this third label sources fruit from younger vines in the l’Enclos, offering approachable early-drinking Pauillac character under the estate umbrella

Wine Portfolio

Château Latour (Grand Vin)

The Pinnacle Cabernet of Pauillac

Blend:

~75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, remainder Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc

Awards & Recognition:

Numerous 100-point scores

World-class aging potential

Les Forts de Latour

Powerful and Refined Second Wine

Blend:

~70% Cabernet Sauvignon, ~30% Merlot

Awards & Recognition:

Consistently scored high-90s

Respected as benchmark second label

Pauillac de Château Latour

Accessible Pauillac via Younger Vines

Blend:

Bordeaux-style blend from estate vines

Awards & Recognition:

Frequently earns 90+ scores

recognized as top-tier third wine

Did You Know?

The estate is named after a medieval fortified tower (Saint‑Lambert), first built in the 14th century; the circular dovecote tower still stands in the vineyard
Latour remained ungrafted until the phylloxera crisis; full grafting began in 1900 and concluded by 1920, making pre-1920 vintages rare treasures
In 2011 a six-liter bottle of Château Latour 1961 sold for £135,000 at Christie’s – one of the most expensive Bordeaux bottles ever
Under François Pinault’s Artémis, Latour is legally protected as a French national cultural asset, restricting future ownership to French citizens
The microclimate influenced by the Gironde estuary helps Latour produce outstanding wines even in marginal vintages—a hallmark of its reliability and terroir strength

The Towering Titan of Pauillac

Quick Facts

Specialty Grapes

Red Varieties

White Varieties

Awards & Recognition

About Château Latour

History

Origins & the Ségur Era (14th Century–1855)

Modernisation & British Investment (1963–1989)

Return to French Ownership & Current Era (1993–Present)

Wine Styles

Grand Vin (Château Latour)

Second Wine – Les Forts de Latour

Third Wine – Pauillac de Château Latour

Wine Portfolio

Château Latour (Grand Vin)

Les Forts de Latour

Pauillac de Château Latour

Did You Know?

Discover Our Sun-Drenched Collection