Review of the Estate

Established in the 1670s, the vineyards of Château Latour are some of the oldest in the Médoc, 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 Chateau Latour came to prominence as a producer of first class 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 Chateau Latour's 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 of Chateau Latour, 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.

Vineyard

Surface area: 160.5 acres

Grape Varieties: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot

Average age of vines: 40 years

Density of plantation: 10,00 vines per hectare

Average yields: 45 hectoliters per hectare

Average cases produced: 14,500 per year

Plateau of maturity: 15 - 50 years

Robert Parker Latour 1994 Review

Score: 94  Points

This is an interesting as well as great vintage for Latour. As indicated in my barrel tasting report, Latour’s 1994 possesses an atypically high percentage of Merlot (27%) in the final blend. Because of this, the wine appears to have a sweeter, more fleshy texture than is typical for a young Latour, but do not make the mistake of thinking this will be a commercially-styled, easy to drink wine. It exhibits an opaque dark ruby/purple color, and a backward, intense textbook nose of walnut and cassis scents complemented by smoky pain grille notes that build in the glass. This full-bodied, powerful, layered Latour reveals high tannin, but no bitterness or astringency. The superb purity, fabulous precision, and remarkable length should ensure 35-40 years of longevity. Readers will find more fat, flesh, and glycerin than usual for a young Latour (save for such great vintages as 1982 and 1990), but don’t be deceived, this wine requires 8-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2035. Last tasted 1/97

Score: 94