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2005 Les Forts de Latour – Château Latour
- Vintage: 2005
- Bottle Size: 0,75l
- Filling level: hf - high fill
- Label Condition: bin slightly soiled
- Source: private collection
- Alcohol percentage: 13% vol.
-
Points:
92 Wine Enthusiast
93 Falstaff
94 Wine Spectator -
Origin:
Bordeaux
France
Left Bank
Pauillac
Château Latour
Welcome to the elite league of the world’s finest red wines! Latour, based in Pauillac, is one of the five famous Premier Crus classified in 1855 for the Paris Exposition. The name refers to a fortress tower built during the Hundred Years’ War against the English. The current tower, constructed in 1620 with a round dome, serves as the emblem on the label.
Viticulture on Latour’s lands has been documented since the 14th century, but the estate’s great history truly began in the late 17th century when it was acquired by the de Ségur family. During his stay in France in 1787, Thomas Jefferson already recognized it as one of the finest estates in Bordeaux. Like many other châteaux, Latour went through a series of ownership changes in the last century. From 1963 onward, the estate changed hands multiple times—including foreign investors—before French billionaire and businessman François Pinault repurchased it in 1993. His holding company continues to own Latour to this day.
These turbulent years led to a legal restriction: a Premier Cru estate may not be sold to foreign buyers. Under Pinault, a complete renovation took place in 1998, blending cutting-edge winemaking technology with a sensitive, traditional architectural approach. Since 2015, the vineyards have been organically farmed, with half of them even following biodynamic principles. The 78 hectares of vineyards are planted with 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Latour caused a major stir in 2012 when it announced its withdrawal from the en primeur system. One of the main reasons was to curb speculation on increasingly expensive en primeur wines.
Bordeaux
When the Romans thought of what is now Bordeaux, they described it as “lying by the water” and named the region “Aquitaine” accordingly. Its capital and port city shares the same name as the world-renowned 100,000-hectare wine-growing region: Bordeaux, or in French, Bordelais.
Along and in front of the Gironde, which is fed by the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, lie the world-famous wine regions of Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Graves, and on the right bank, the villages of St. Émilion and Pomerol. Our passion for the fine wines of the Bordelais has been unwavering for many years. We have been collecting these wines for over 20 years, regularly acquiring private cellars from enthusiasts, and focusing on what we consider the great vintages (including 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, and several others) and the top winemakers. Wines that do not meet our taste simply do not make it into our selection.
For any wine lover, thinking of Bordeaux inevitably brings Cabernet Sauvignon to mind. But why does this grape thrive so exceptionally well there? The climate on the Médoc peninsula, located to the left of the Gironde, is the mildest in all of Bordeaux, making it the ideal region for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends. This variety requires precisely these conditions to reach full ripeness with consistent success. Pine forests protect the vineyards from strong Atlantic winds while also moderating summer temperatures.
Given the high rainfall near the sea, the typical Château mitigates risk by cultivating at least three grape varieties: alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, the blends typically include Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and sometimes the later-ripening Petit Verdot and Malbec. Voilà! The dominant grape variety depends on the riverbank: Cabernet Sauvignon dominates on the Left Bank, while Merlot prevails on the Right Bank. Of course, there are exceptions, but this is the fundamental distinction between the two most famous riverbanks in the wine world.
Pauillac
Does your pulse quicken at the mention of blackcurrants, cedarwood, cigar box, and damp forest floor? If so, your refined palate is likely well-acquainted with Pauillac. Welcome to Cabernet Sauvignon paradise!
British wine critic Hugh Johnson once said:
“If one had to single out one commune of Bordeaux to head the list, there would be no argument. It would be Pauillac.”
This 1,200-hectare AOC is home to three of Bordeaux’s five world-famous Premiers Crus: Lafite, Latour, and Mouton-Rothschild. Interestingly, Lafite and Mouton share vineyards on the highest plateau of Le Pouyalet, standing at a modest 30 meters.
But Pauillac is also the birthplace of many other remarkable estates, including:
- 2ème Crus: Pichon-Comtesse, Pichon-Baron
- 4ème Cru: Duhart-Milon
- 5ème Crus: Pontet-Canet, Lynch-Bages, to name just a few.
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates these highly elegant blends. The region’s deep gravel soils provide excellent drainageacross its subtly undulating landscape, creating the ideal conditions for this grape variety to produce wines of global renown.
