The most expensive winery in the world - Latour winery red wine recycling price
We are a professional red wine recycling company, specializing in the bulk recycling of various rare red wines, especially Latour red wine. Latour red wine has always been a treasure in the red wine world, and its profound history and excellent quality make it sought after by collectors and wine lovers.
Hugh Johnson, a famous British wine critic, once commented on it:
"If Lafite is a tenor, it is a bass; if Lafite is a lyrical poem, it is an epic masterpiece."
This "it" is one of the most sought-after and expensive wineries in France and even the world - Chateau Latour%E7%B4%85%E9%85%92" title="Debourg Winery High-Priced Latour Red Wine Recycling">Chateau Latour. This winery was classified as one of the 5 First Growths in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, along with Lafite (Chateau Lafite Rothschild), Mouton (Chateau Mouton Rothschild), Margaux (Chateau Margaux), and Haut-Brion (Chateau Haut-Brion).
A Winery That Started with a Tower
The earliest document mentioning the name "Latour" dates back to 1331, when it was a heavily fortified military outpost in the estuary region. At that time, Lord Pons authorized Gaucelme de Castillon to build a defensive tower (Tour Fortifiee) in the parish of Saint Maubert. "La Tour" means "the tower."
P.s. The original defensive tower no longer exists, but in 1620, the winery rebuilt a tower, named "La Tour de Saint-Maubert," but it was only used as a dovecote.
Subsequently, "Chateau Latour" appeared in the chronicles compiled by Jean Froissart in 1378. However, until the late 16th century, it remained a leased estate, and wine production was unremarkable. At that time, the area planted with vines had not yet covered the entire estate, and its output already far exceeded demand. This situation continued until 1718, when Alexandre de Segur became the owner of the estate through marriage. Since his arrival, the great wine history of Médoc began to unfold.
Alexandre de Segur's son, known as "the Prince of Vines," acquired many famous estates in 1718. In fact, between 1718-1720, in addition to Latour, even Lafite and Mouton belonged to the Segur family!
Under the careful management of the Segur family, Latour gradually gained widespread recognition. In the early 18th century, a large number of British aristocrats and wealthy bourgeoisie became followers of high-quality wines, and the wines produced by Latour stood out for their excellent quality and affordable prices, sought after by British aristocrats, and considered one of the best wines in Médoc at that time.
In 1714, the price of a barrel of Latour wine was only 4-5 times that of current Bordeaux wines, while in 1729 it reached 13 times, and in 1767 it was already a terrifying 20 times.
Entering the 20th century, Latour was sold by the heirs of the Segur family and changed hands many times. In 1989, the Union des Banques à Paris acquired the shares of Chateau Latour from the British Pearson Group at an astronomical price of nearly 1,800 francs per vine, earning it the title of "the most expensive winery in the world." However, it wasn't until 1993, when François Pinault acquired the controlling stake in Latour for 720 million francs, that Latour was fully returned to French hands.
The Best Terroir in Bordeaux
Climate
Latour is located at the southeastern corner of Pauillac, in the heart of Médoc, bordering Saint-Julien, only 300 meters from the Gironde estuary. As British aristocrats' loyalty to Chateau Latour gradually increased, the winery also began to cultivate its own grapes. The area of its vineyards gradually expanded from 38 hectares in 1759 to 92 hectares today.
Due to the influence of the Atlantic and Gulf Stream, the Bordeaux region is known for its variable climate. The location of Chateau Latour, being close to the Gironde River, allows the large body of water in the estuary to regulate temperature. Winters here are mild and humid, the first half of spring is always cool and humid, the second half often has rain and rising temperatures, summers are often hot and humid, only becoming dry in mid-July, and autumn is usually clear and crisp.
Soil
Overall, most of Chateau Latour's vineyards are located on gravel ridges, with higher altitudes and gentle slopes. The perfect combination of gravel and deep clay here, though rarely lauded, is a unique advantage for Chateau Latour.
Among all of Latour's vineyards, 47 hectares of wine-producing land near the chateau are enclosed by stone walls, known as "L'Enclos," with soil primarily composed of clay and gravel. Many consider this to be the best plot in all of Bordeaux, and the heart and soul of Latour.
Of course, the grapes here are mainly used to make the Grand Vin; while the more than 40 hectares of vineyards outside the "L'Enclos" wall are used to make the winery's second wine and Pauillac wine, where gravelly soil predominates.
Such a soil structure allows the vines (especially old vines) to root deeply into the soil, up to 3 meters deep. The underlying clay can absorb groundwater, providing the necessary nutrients for the vines, while the upper gravel has excellent drainage. Whether it was the drought of 2003 or the rainy year of 2010, the root systems of the vines here ensured the ripeness and optimal condition of the grapes.
Winemaking Also at the Forefront of the Industry
The takeover of Latour by a British consortium was not without its benefits. They extensively repaired and expanded the winery, purchased several vineyards outside "L'Enclos," and improved the drainage system of the vineyards. In the 1960s, they decided to replace old oak barrels with new stainless steel tanks. This made Latour one of the first wineries in Bordeaux to achieve modern winemaking.
Furthermore, in adherence to environmental principles, Latour aims to achieve a balance between vines, soil, and environment to best express the terroir in its wines. Since August 2005, the entire Chateau Latour has implemented organic farming, and in August 2018, it obtained ECOCERT organic certification. At the same time, Latour's staff have also received training in biodynamic farming, demonstrating the winery's firm commitment to vineyard sustainability.
Latour's Three Wines
Grand Vin
Following the consistent style of Bordeaux, the Grand Vin comes from the winery's best vines. At Chateau Latour, this plot is in the center of "L'Enclos," where old vines with an average age of about 60 years are planted, with Cabernet Sauvignon accounting for more than 90%.
Chateau Latour's Grand Vin (Grand Vin de Chateau Latour) is known for its strong and full-bodied characteristics, full of blackcurrant and delicate black cherry aromas. In great vintages, Latour's Grand Vin has strong aging potential and can easily cellar for decades, with the aromas and flavors becoming increasingly complex over time, and the tannins and acidity becoming softer, gradually reaching their optimal state.
The style of Latour's Grand Vin is the "hardest" among the 5 First Growths, difficult to tame when young, generally reaching its optimal drinking period after 20 years.
Second Wine
Latour's second wine (Les Forts de Latour), also known as Little Latour or Forts de Latour, was first produced in 1966. The grapes for Forts de Latour mainly come from 3 areas:
The outer plots within "L'Enclos";
Some vineyards outside "L'Enclos" with an average vine age of over 40 years, such as Pinada, Petit Batailley, and Saint-Anne;
Or if the winemaker, during the tasting and blending stage, finds that the wine from a certain plot meets the standards for the second wine, it will also be added to Little Latour.
Latour's second wine has aging potential comparable to Latour's Grand Vin. The difference between the two is that the new oak ratio for the second wine is between 50%-60%, and the proportion of Merlot in the blend is higher, reaching 25%-30%. Parker once commented that Latour's second wine is the best second wine among the 5 First Growths, retaining a strong and robust character.
Third Wine: Pauillac Wine
In addition to the Grand Vin and second wine, Latour has also been producing wines labeled as Pauillac since 1989. The development concept was to create a more accessible wine, more suitable for pairing with meals in restaurants. The grapes for this wine usually come from young vines, and wines that do not meet the requirements for the second wine are also blended into Pauillac.
Of course, the proportion of Merlot in this wine's blend is even higher, reaching 45%; and only about 20% new oak is used for aging. This wine usually reaches its optimal drinking period after 4-5 years of cellaring.
7 Vintages Awarded Perfect Scores by Parker
To date, Latour's Grand Vin has received perfect scores from Parker in 7 vintages: 2016, 2010, 2009, 2003, 1982, 1928, and 1924.
Chateau Latour is hailed as the most stable First Growth in Médoc for 100 years, and since the 1996 vintage, its wines have been among the finest! In addition to the top Grand Vin wines costing thousands, the "third wine" for under a thousand, specifically designed for food pairing, is also quite thoughtful.
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