Chateau Latour

Château Latour is one of the world's most renowned Bordeaux wine producers. It is located in the southeastern corner of the commune of Pauillac, bordering Saint-Julien in the Médoc region. Rated as a First Growth (1er Cru) in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855, it has become one of the most sought-after and expensive wine producers on the planet, producing strongly structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wines capable of aging for many decades.

The most significant figure in the history of the Latour estate is Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur, nicknamed the 'Prince of Vines,' a man with magic hands when it came to vineyards. As early as the beginning of the 18th century, he became a pioneer of methods aimed at maximizing the potential of the exceptional terroir, creating the so-called 'Latour style,' which remains unparalleled to this day. According to often meticulously kept archival records, the estate was subsequently managed by a series of people who reverently adhered to all the rules established by their founder.

It can be said that the reputation of the magnificent cru Château Latour, which quickly spread to England and even the New World, remained undisputed until the golden era initiated by the 1855 classification. In the early 1960s, the British group Pearson acquired Latour from the descendants of the Marquis de Ségur. The new British owners began a systematic modernization of the entire estate. In 1993, the winery was acquired by the Breton industrialist François Pinault, beginning a new chapter in the saga of Latour.

The vineyards cover 78 hectares. In the vineyard near the main building, called l'Enclos, grapes are grown for the production of the Grand Vin. 80% of the vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, which is an ideal variety for this area because its root system can extract nutrients and water from the local stony soil. The Merlot variety represents 18% of the Grand Vin and helps to soften the pronounced taste of Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is primarily planted in the lower plots of l'Enclos, where the gravel layers are not as deep. The remaining 2% of the vineyard is planted with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot varieties.