Sell Chateau Latour Most Expensive Winery

We are a professional wine buyback company, specializing in the large-scale Sell various rare red wines, especially Latour red wine. Latour red wine has always been a treasure in the wine world, and its profound history and excellent quality make it a sought-after item for collectors and wine lovers.

The renowned British wine critic Hugh Johnson once commented:

"If Lafite is a tenor, it is a bass; if Lafite is a lyrical poem, it is an epic masterpiece."

This "it" refers to one of the most sought-after and expensive wineries in France and even the world—Château Latour. This winery, along with Lafite (Château Lafite Rothschild), Mouton (Château Mouton Rothschild), Margaux (Château Margaux), and Haut-Brion (Château Haut-Brion), was designated as one of the five First Growths in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

A Winery That Started with a Tower

The earliest document mentioning the name "Latour" dates back to 1331, when it was a heavily guarded military fortress in the estuary region. In that year, Lord Pons authorized Gaucelme de Castillon to build a fortified tower (Tour Fortifiee) in the parish of Saint Maubert. "La Tour" means "the tower."

P.s. The original fortified tower no longer exists, but in 1620, the winery rebuilt a tower, named "La Tour de Saint-Maubert," which was only used as a dovecote.

Subsequently, "Château Latour" appeared in the chronicles compiled by Jean Froissart in 1378. However, until the end of the 16th century, it remained a leased estate, and wine production was unremarkable. At that time, the vineyard area did not cover 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 Medoc truly began.

Alexandre de Segur, son of Count Alexandre de Segur, known as "the Prince of Vines," acquired many famous estates in 1718. In fact, between 1718 and 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 bourgeois became followers of high-quality wines. Latour's wines, with their excellent quality and affordable prices, stood out and were sought after by the British aristocracy, considered one of the best Medoc wines at the time.

In 1714, the price of a barrel of Latour wine was only 4-5 times that of current Bordeaux wines, but by 1729 it had reached 13 times, and by 1767, it was a staggering 20 times.

In the 20th century, Latour was sold by the Segur family's heirs and changed hands multiple times. In 1989, the Union des Banques group acquired the shares of Château Latour from the British Pearson Group at an exorbitant price of nearly 1,800 francs per vine, earning it the reputation of "the world's most expensive winery." However, it was not until 1993, when François Pinault bought the controlling stake in Latour for 720 million francs, that Latour fully returned to French ownership.

The Best Terroir in Bordeaux

Climate

Latour is located at the southeastern corner of Pauillac village, bordering Saint-Julien, in the heart of the Medoc, only 300 meters from the Gironde estuary. Since British aristocrats' loyalty to Château Latour gradually increased, the winery also began to cultivate grapes itself. The area of its vineyards gradually expanded from 38 hectares in 1759 to 92 hectares today.

Influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, the Bordeaux region has always been known for its variable climate. The area where Château Latour is located, being close to the Gironde River, allows the large body of water in the estuary to regulate the temperature. Winters here are mild and humid, the first half of spring is always cool and humid, the latter half often rainy with rising temperatures, summers are often hot and humid, only becoming dry in mid-July, and autumns are usually crisp and clear.

Soil

Overall, most of Château Latour's vineyards are located on gravel ridges, with higher elevations and gentle slopes. The perfect combination of gravel and deep clay, though rarely touted, is a unique advantage for Château Latour.

Among all of Latour's vineyards, 47 hectares near the château 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.

Naturally, the grapes here are mainly used to produce the Grand Vin; while the more than 40 hectares of vineyards outside the "L'Enclos" wall are used to produce the estate'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 absorbs groundwater, providing the necessary nutrients for the vines, while the upper gravel layer offers excellent drainage. Whether it was the drought of 2003 or the heavy rains of 2010, the roots of the vines here could ensure the grapes' ripeness and optimal condition.

Winemaking also at the forefront of the industry

Latour's takeover by a British consortium was not without its benefits. They extensively renovated and expanded the winery, acquiring several vineyards outside "L'Enclos" and improving the vineyard's drainage system. In the 1960s, they even 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, adhering to the principle of environmental respect, Latour aims for a balance between vines, soil, and the environment to achieve the best expression of terroir in its wines. From August 2005, the entire Latour estate began practicing organic farming, and in August 2018, it obtained ECOCERT organic certification. At the same time, Latour's employees also received training in biodynamic methods, demonstrating the winery's firm commitment to vineyard sustainability.

The Three Wines of Latour

Grand Vin

Following Bordeaux's customary style, the Grand Vin comes from the winery's best vines. At Château Latour, this plot is at the center of "L'Enclos," where old vines averaging about 60 years old are planted, with Cabernet Sauvignon accounting for over 90%.

Château Latour's Grand Vin (Grand Vin de Château Latour) is renowned for its powerful and robust body, full of blackcurrant and delicate black cherry aromas. In great vintages, the Latour Grand Vin's formidable aging potential can easily cellar for decades, and its aromas and flavors become increasingly complex over time, while tannins and acidity soften, gradually reaching their optimal state.

The style of Latour Grand Vin is the most "hardcore" among the five First Growths, difficult to tame when young, and generally reaches its optimal drinking window after 20 years.

Second Wine

Les Forts de Latour, also known as "Petit Latour" or "Forts de Latour," was first produced in 1966. The grapes for Les Forts de Latour primarily come from three sources:

Plots on the outer edges of "L'Enclos";

Some vineyards outside "L'Enclos" with average vine ages exceeding 40 years, such as Pinada, Petit Batailley, and Saint-Anne;

Or, during the winemaker's tasting and blending stage, if a wine from a certain plot meets the standards for the second wine, it will also be added to Les Forts de Latour.

The aging potential of Les Forts de Latour is comparable to that of the Grand Vin. The difference lies in the second wine's new oak proportion, which is between 50% and 60%, and a higher proportion of Merlot in the blend, reaching 25%-30%. Parker once praised Les Forts de Latour as the best second wine among the five First Growths, retaining a powerful and rich character.

Third Wine: Pauillac Wine

In addition to the Grand Vin and second wine, Latour has also been producing a wine labeled Pauillac since 1989. The concept behind its development was to create a more accessible wine, better suited for pairing with meals in restaurants. The grapes for this wine typically come from younger vines, and any wine that doesn't meet the requirements for the second wine is also used in the Pauillac blend.

Of course, the proportion of Merlot in this blend is even higher, reaching 45%; and only about 20% new oak barrels are used for aging. This wine usually reaches its optimal drinking window 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.

Château Latour is hailed as the most consistent First Growth in the Medoc over the past 100 years. Since the 1996 vintage, all its wines have been considered outstanding! In addition to the top-tier Grand Vin wines costing thousands, the "third wine" priced under a thousand, specially crafted for food pairing, is also quite thoughtful.

If you have any red wine for sale, please contact Dibao Wine Winery to acquire it.

To apply the Latour assessment criteria from "The World's Most Expensive Winery - Latour Latour Winery Red Wine buyback Prices" to actual wine collections, you can organize the vintage, number of bottles, fill level, and wine label photos, then send them via WhatsApp 96737259 for an initial valuation.

WeChat:Sam96737259