Château Latour: Pauillac’s Most Powerful First Growth and the Legend of L’Enclos

History of the Estate

• The Latour estate has existed since the 14th century, with a tower (hence its name) built as a fortification against the English during the Hundred Years’ War.
• In the 17th century, it came under the control of the de Ségur family, already owners of Lafite and Mouton.
• The 1855 Classification confirmed it as a Premier Grand Cru Classé, a status it has never failed to uphold since.
• In 1993, the François Pinault luxury group (Artémis) acquired the estate, undertaking significant modernization investments.

The Legendary Enclos Vineyard

• The heart of the estate is “l’Enclos”: 47 contiguous hectares of vines encircling the château, on exceptional deep gravel soils.
• Grape varieties: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
• The oldest vines, “les vieilles vignes de Cabernet Sauvignon,” produce the core of the grand vin.

Style and Character

• Latour is the most powerful and tannic of the First Growths: it embodies virility and structure.
• Its aromas: cassis, blackberry, cedar, walnut, leather, and graphite, with deep minerality.
• Its longevity is legendary: in great vintages, it can age 60 years and more without faltering.
• Latour’s quality is remarkably consistent, even in difficult vintages.

The Wines

• Château Latour (Grand Vin): Produced exclusively from the vines of l’Enclos, in the finest vintages.
• Les Forts de Latour: The second wine, sourced from younger parcels and rigorous selections, often compared in quality to a Deuxième Cru Classé.
• Pauillac de Latour: The third wine, an accessible entry into the Latour universe.
• In 2012, Latour became the first First Growth to withdraw from the en primeur system, releasing its wines only when they are ready to drink.