History
Château Latour, a renowned French wine estate, has a rich history dating back to at least 1331 when Gaucelme de Castillon was granted permission to build a fortified tower by Lord Pons. The estate's early significance was tied to its strategic location near the Gironde estuary, which made it a crucial fortress during the Hundred Years' War. The tower, known as the "Tour de Saint Maubert," was initially in English hands but was eventually destroyed by French forces in 1453.
Over the centuries, the estate changed hands several times. By the 16th century, the de Mullet family had accumulated the smallholdings into one property. In 1670, a lineage of connected family ownership began, which continued until 1963 when the estate was sold to the de Chavannes family. The Ségur family, who added Château Lafite and other properties to their holdings, played a significant role in establishing Latour's reputation as a premier wine producer.
The estate's modernization began in the 1960s under the management of Henri Martin and Jean-Paul Gardère, who introduced stainless steel temperature-controlled vats and expanded the vineyards. In 1989, Latour was purchased by Allied Lyons, but it returned to French ownership in 1993 under François Pinault. Today, Château Latour is known for its exceptional red wines, particularly its Grand Vin, which is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the remainder Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Terroir
Château Latour is situated in the heart of the Médoc wine region, approximately 50 km northwest of Bordeaux. The estate's prime terroir, known as "L'Enclos," is a single gravelly hillock located between the châteaux Pichon-Longueville Lalande and Léoville Las Cases. This hillock benefits from a well-drained clay subsoil, which contributes to the wine's elegance and concentration. The proximity to the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean moderates the climate, protecting against extreme weather conditions and enabling earlier grape ripening.
The soil composition is characterized by a deep layer of gravel containing small and large stones, with a subsoil mixture of clay, marble, and sand. This unique microclimate and soil combination gives Château Latour's wines incredible strength, depth, richness, and length, particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir's diversity, with more clay and marl in the north and south sections and deeper gravel and clay in the central area, contributes to the wine's complexity and power. The vineyard's gentle slopes and access to water due to its proximity to the Gironde further enhance its terroir.
