Château Latour 2003

Pauillac

First growth of Médoc

France - - Red wine

75 cl - 13% vol.

Price/btl: -

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Press review

Alles über Wein # 3/2004 (6/1/2004) : 95-100

Bettane & Desseauve Carnet # 30 (4/28/2004) : 10/10

Un vin magique, complètement inédit, qui entrera certainement dans la légende plus rapidement que le 1945, le 1961 et même le 1982. Son ampleur et son velouté naturel de texture n'ont, à notre connaissance, aucun équivalent depuis trente ans à la propriété.¶De plus, l'incroyable fraîcheur et la grâce aromatique de ses cabernets – qui flirtait pourtant avec les 14° – affichent un niveau jamais atteint depuis un siècle !¶Il domine, et de haut, tout Bordeaux à ce stade de son évolution.

Decanter # 29-2 (6/1/2004) : Decanter Award Maturity: 2014-2035

Huge colour, big chunky fruit and yet all elegance and terrific purity of expression, total harmony in all its elements and a marvellous example of the freshness and fragrance of Cabernet in this vintage. Superb.

Parker # 164 (4/1/2006) : 100 Maturity: -2040

There are only 10,800 cases (rather than the normal 15,000-20,000) of the 2003 Latour, a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot (13.3% finished alcohol). A prodigious effort, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of smoke, cedar, creme de cassis, flowers, crushed rocks, and blackberries. Massive and multi-layered, with huge richness and low acidity, it is about as unctuous as a young Latour can be. It could be compared to the 1982, but it may be even more pure, at least at this early stage, than that monumental wine. The level of intensity builds prodigiously in the mouth, and the finish lasts nearly a minute. Disarmingly accessible (although analytically the tannin level is high), I suspect it will ultimately shut down, but it was performing impeccably when I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+.What can one say about proprietor Francois Pinault and his manager, Frederic Engerer? A strong argument can be made that in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, Latour produced the wine of the vintage, although it has plenty of competition in the Northern Medoc in 2003. Moreover, the bargains are the estate’s least expensive cuvee, Pauillac, followed by Les Forts de Latour, Latour’s second wine which continues to increase in quality.

Wein Gourmet # 2/2004 : 97-100

Weinwisser # 4/2004 (5/1/2004) : 19/20 Maturity: 2012-2040

Wine Spectator # web (4/5/2004) : 95-100

Inky, with masses of licorice, coffee and currant character on the nose. It's full-bodied and supersilky. Thick yet elegant, with fantastic ripe tannins and exciting juicy fruit on the finish. This could be 1982 in the remake, but cleaner and classier. One of the smallest productions ever for this estate.

The property in brief

The origin of the name of Château Latour is due to a fortress that Pons, Seigneur of Castillon, allowed Gaucelme de Castillon in 1331 to build in Saint Lambert. In 1378, Château Latour en Saint-Maubert, called later Château La Tour and then Château Latour, entered the annals of history. As a fortified place guarding the estuary, it was seized under the 100 years war by the Anglo-Gascon army and would stay under British domination, until the capitulation's treaty, just after the Battle of Castillon, on 17th July 1453. Today, the tower does not exist anymore and has be replaced by a pigeon house, probably built with the stones of the old Château between 1620 and 1630. At the end of the 17th century, after a succesion of sales, inheritances and marriages, the Latour estate became the property of the Ségur family which kept it during 300 years. In 1855, it was classified as First Growth under Napoleon. The existing Château was built between 1862 and 1864 during the golden age of Latour, which was highly recognized around the world. In 1963, the Marquis de Ségur sold 75 % of his shares to Harveys of Bristol and Hallminster Limited (Pearson Group), both British companies. In 1989, Allied Lyons, already owner of 25 % of the shares, bought Pearson's as well and became the majority shareholder until 1993, when they sold their shares to François Pinault,, French Entrepreneur and businessman. The Latour vineyard covers around 78 hectares of the Pauillac appellation, of which 47 hectares surround the chateau, these being referred to as l'Enclos. Only the grapes from these 47 hectares make the "Grand Vin de Château Latour";