Forts de Latour

Les Forts de Latour

One of the most famous and historic of all second wines where clear decision-making underpinned its identity since its inception. In 1963, 12.5Ha. of vines were planted on land outside the ‘Grand Enclos’, where the Grand Vin Latour is grown,  owned by the estate since 1850 with the express intention to grow a new wine to be called Les Forts de Latour.  The success of the wine offered out en primeur since 1990 seemingly confirming the chateau’s judgment to do so.

Les Forts de Latour is produced from a mix of those vineyards established in 1963 with vines under 12 years old located within the ‘Grand Enclos’ and, in certain years, selected vats declassified from the Grand Vin.

Style

Les Forts de Latour comes from one of the most consistent and regal chateaus in the whole of the Medoc.  A medium-full-bodied, powerful style and rich, varied aromas – earthy, spice, tobacco, cassis – mark the estate’s personality.

 

Top-rated vintages

Vintage	RP	JR	Market price £	£ / Parker points
2010	92-95
2009	93-95	18	2,200	23.40
2006	92	16.5	2,350	25.54
2005	92	17.5	2,380	25.87
2003	92	16	2,050	22.28
2002	92	16.5	2,150	23.37
2000	92	18	2,450	26.63
2007	90	16.5	2,160	24.00
2004	90	17.5	2,300	25.55
2001	90	17.5	2,100	23.33
1999	90	17.5	2,250	25.00

As per June 2011

 

Market

The market for second wines has existed, among the top chateaux at any rate, for at least 250 years with the basic decision-making on their evolution and position within the market remaining unchanged; which plots, vine-age, percentage in relation to the Grand Vin etc.  Following virtual abandonment during the terrible years of the 20^th century, when it was hard enough to sell the Grand Vin, the market has changed considerably from 1982 on.

Second wines have grown exponentially with 60% of the top 200 chateaux now producing one.  Viticultural practices are better than ever before and the First Growths in particular, have begun in earnest with the repositioning of their second wine as a noble wine in its own right, applying as exacting a standard to its cultivation and production as with their first wine.

Until very recently the prevailing wisdom was that second wines had no investment value.  However, like the opening of the US market in the 1950s which saw prices for the first growths shoot up 50%, the expansion of the market to include a new and more global rich would seem to herald a new era for the second wines. 

Les Forts de Latour, with one of the clearest identities of any second wine, is well-positioned to take advantage of this.

 

Liv-ex Power 100 ranking

2010	total score	2009	move
16	188	59	+43

The Liv-ex Power 100 is a list of the top performers over the previous year and their position starting the current year.  The indice traces the movement of chateau and other wines using a sophisticated weighting system based on average prices, production, notional availability and Parker Points.

 

Release price evolution

Vintage	ex Negociant € / btl	London release price £ / cs
2010
2009	89	1,450
2008	46	540
2007	58	565
2006	53	500
2005	48

 

 

Les Forts de Latour at a glance

Commune: Pauillac

Soils: gravel and sand, iron and clay, in parts limestone and the level of clay increase, ample water.

Climate: maritime, moderated by the Gironde estuary and Atlantic Ocean, pine forests provide insulation from strong winds off the ocean and help to lessen summer temperatures.

District: Medoc

Classification: 1er Cru Classe 1855

Owner: François Pinault

Winemaker: Frédéric Engerer 

Vineyard: 77 ha/190 acres (11 ha were acquired in 2005) planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon vines, 24 % Merlot (increased from 15 per cent in the 1980s), very small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot.

Vinification and ageing: 50 % new barrels, 50 % one vintage barrels, for 18 months.

Production: 12,500 cases, that is to say 37 % of the production.