Château Latour
The Château |
The Architectural
Model |
The Wine
Cabinet
History
Established in the 1670s, the vineyards of Château Latour are some of the oldest in
the Medoc, pre-dating the existing Château (which was built between 1862 and 1864) by
almost 200 years.
The grandiose Tower of St Lambert depicted on the wine’s label is instantly recognisable.
Built as a fortress during the Hundred Years’ War in the late 1300s, it was burned to the ground
in the 1450s and replaced by a pigeon tower, built from the stones of the former Château,
between 1620 and 1630.
It was not until the early 18th century that the Château came to prominence as a producer of
impeccable wines. This success can largely be attributed to the demands of a budding wine
market in Northern Europe and the Marquis de Ségur’s concurrent investment in the vineyard and
winery. Ownership remained in the de Ségur family for almost 300 years until 1963 when three
quarters of the shares in Château Latour were sold to a British company, the Pearson group.
The intensive modernisation and attention to detail that followed this change in ownership
has continued with the management of Francois Pinault, the current owner, who acquired the
estate in 1993. Together Pinault and Frédéric Engerer, his estate manager, are renowned for
producing exemplary yet consistent wines, which are especially fine, even in weaker vintages.
This notable finesse, as any discerning consumer will attest, is an exceptional and rare occurrence.
Order top vintages of Château Latour