One of the World's Most Expensive Wine Estates: Château Latour Selling Prices

We are a professional red-wine buyer, focused on purchasing a wide range of rare wines in quantity, especially Château Latour. Latour has long been a treasure of the wine world, and its rich history and outstanding quality make it highly sought after by collectors and wine lovers.

The renowned British wine critic Hugh Johnson once described it this way:

“If Lafite is a tenor, it is a bass; if Lafite is a lyric poem, it is an epic.”

The ‘it’ in that comparison is one of the most sought-after and expensive estates in France and the world—Château Latour. In the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the estate was ranked among the five First Growths alongside Lafite (Château Lafite Rothschild), Mouton (Château Mouton Rothschild), Margaux (Château Margaux) and Haut-Brion (Château Haut-Brion), together known as the 5 First Growths.

An Estate That Began with a Tower

The earliest document containing the name Latour dates to 1331, when the site was a heavily defended military stronghold in the estuary. That year, Lord Pons authorised Gaucelme de Castillon to build a fortified tower (Tour Fortifiée) in the parish of Saint-Maubert. ‘La Tour’ means ‘the tower’.

P.S. The original defensive tower has long since disappeared, but in 1620 the estate built another tower called La Tour de Saint-Maubert; it was used only as a dovecote.

The name Château Latour subsequently appeared in a chronicle compiled by Jean Froissart in 1378. Until the end of the 16th century, however, the site remained a leased estate and its winemaking activity was modest. Even before vines covered the entire property, production already greatly exceeded demand. This continued until 1718, when Alexandre de Ségur became the estate's owner through marriage. His arrival marked the beginning of the Médoc's great wine history.

Alexandre de Ségur's son, known as the ‘Prince of Vines’, acquired a number of famous estates from 1718 onward. In fact, during the two years from 1718-1720, not only Latour but also Lafite and Mouton belonged to the Ségur family.

Under the Ségur family's careful management, Latour gradually gained broad recognition. In the early 18th century, many British aristocrats and wealthy members of the bourgeoisie became followers of fine wine. Latour stood out for its quality and accessible price, attracting British aristocrats and earning recognition as one of the Médoc's best wines of the period.

In 1714, a barrel of Latour cost only 4-5 times as much as an ordinary Bordeaux wine; by 1729 the multiple had reached 13, and by 1767 it was an extraordinary 20.

In the 20th century, the Ségur heirs sold Latour, and the estate changed hands several times. In 1989, Groupe Allied Lyon acquired the stake then held by Britain's Pearson Group for the extraordinary equivalent of nearly 1,800 francs per vine, prompting Latour to be called ‘the world's most expensive wine estate’. It was not until 1993, when François Pinault purchased control of Latour for 720 million francs, that the estate returned fully to French ownership.

One of Bordeaux's Finest Terroirs

Climate

Latour lies at the south-eastern edge of Pauillac in the heart of the Médoc, where the village meets Saint-Julien, only 300 metres from the Gironde estuary. As the loyalty of British aristocrats to Château Latour grew, the estate increasingly planted its own vines. Its vineyard area expanded gradually from 38 hectares in 1759 to 92 hectares today.

Influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, Bordeaux is known for changeable weather. At Latour, the nearby Gironde estuary creates a broad body of water that helps moderate temperatures. Winters are mild and damp; early spring is usually cool and damp, while late spring brings frequent rain and rising temperatures. Summers are often hot and humid, becoming dry only in mid-July, the 7th month, and autumn is generally clear and refreshing.

Soils

Most of Latour's vineyards lie on gently sloping gravel ridges at relatively high elevation. The combination of gravel and deep clay receives little fanfare, but it is one of the estate's natural advantages.

Of all Latour's vineyards, 47 hectares near the château are enclosed by a stone wall and known as L'Enclos. The soils are mainly clay and gravel. Many consider this the finest parcel in Bordeaux and the heart and soul of Latour.

The grapes here are principally used for the grand vin. More than 40 hectares outside the walls of L'Enclos, where sandy gravel predominates, supply the estate's second wine and Pauillac wine.

This soil structure allows vine roots, especially those of old vines, to penetrate deeply—down to 3 metres. Clay in the lower layers absorbs groundwater and supplies the vines with appropriate nutrients, while gravel above provides excellent drainage. Whether in the drought of 2003 or the wet conditions of 2010, the root systems here helped the grapes reach ripeness in favourable condition.

At the Forefront of Winemaking

British consortium ownership was not without benefits for Latour. The owners extensively restored and expanded the estate, acquired several vineyards outside L'Enclos and improved vineyard drainage. In the 1960s, they also decided to replace old oak vats with new stainless-steel tanks, making Latour one of the earliest Bordeaux estates to modernise its winemaking.

In keeping with its respect for the environment, Latour seeks balance among the vines, soil and surroundings so that its wines can express their terroir as fully as possible. The entire estate began practising organic viticulture in August 2005 and received ECOCERT organic certification in August 2018. Latour's staff have also received training in biodynamic methods, demonstrating the estate's firm commitment to vineyard sustainability.

Latour's Three Wines

The Grand Vin

In the established Bordeaux tradition, an estate's grand vin comes from its finest vines. At Latour, these are in the centre of L'Enclos, where the vines average around 60 years of age and Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for more than 90%.

The estate's grand vin, Grand Vin de Château Latour, is known for a powerful, full body with blackcurrant and delicate black-cherry aromas. In great vintages, it can age easily for decades. Its aromas and palate become increasingly complex over time, while tannins and acidity soften as the wine approaches its optimal condition.

Latour's grand vin is the most formidable in style among the 5 First Growths. Difficult to tame when young, it generally reaches its best drinking window after 20 years.

The Second Wine

Latour's second wine, Les Forts de Latour, is also known as Little Latour or Latour Forts. First made in 1966, its grapes come mainly from 3 sources:

parcels near the outer edge of L'Enclos;

vineyards outside L'Enclos with an average vine age of more than 40 years, including Pinada, Petit Batailley and Saint-Anne;

or wine from a parcel found during tasting and blending to meet the standard for the second wine, which may then be included in Les Forts de Latour.

Les Forts de Latour has ageing potential comparable to the grand vin. The distinction is that the second wine uses 50%–60% new oak and contains a higher proportion of Merlot in the blend, reaching 25%–30%. Parker once described it as the best second wine among the five First Growths, retaining a powerful, substantial character.

The Third Wine: Pauillac

In addition to its grand vin and second wine, Latour has produced a wine labelled Pauillac since 1989. It was conceived as a more accessible wine suited to restaurant dining. Its grapes generally come from young vines, and wines that do not meet the standard for the second wine may also enter the Pauillac blend.

The blend contains an even higher proportion of Merlot, reaching 45%, and is aged in only about 20% new oak. It usually reaches its best drinking window after 4-5 years in the cellar.

7 Vintages Awarded Perfect Parker Scores

To date, 7 vintages of Latour's grand vin have received perfect Parker scores: 2016, 2010, 2009, 2003, 1982, 1928 and 1924.

Château Latour is regarded as the Médoc First Growth with the most consistent quality over the past 100 years, and every vintage made since 1996 has been considered among the finest wines. Alongside grand-vin bottles costing thousands, the estate's food-friendly third wine at under 1,000 yuan offers a more approachable option.

If you have red wine at home that you would like to sell, contact Dibao Wine.

To apply the Latour assessment points in “One of the World's Most Expensive Wine Estates: Château Latour Selling Prices” to actual bottles, organise the vintages, bottle counts, fill levels and label photographs, then use WhatsApp 96737259 to request an initial valuation.

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