Château Les Forts de Latour 2008
Château Les Forts de Latour 2008 is a red wine from the Pauillac appellation in Bordeaux, produced by Château Latour. As the estate's second wine, this Les Forts de Latour cuvée blends 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. The Wine Advocate awards it 91/100 with a drinking window from 2015 to 2030; Jancis Robinson rates it 17.5/20, to be enjoyed between 2020 and 2040; James Suckling gives it 93/100. Critics highlight a profile of dark fruits, mentholated and spicy notes, underpinned by a velvety texture and present tannins.
La bouteille proposée
- Size
- Bottle (75cl)
- Packaging
- Loose
- Label Condition
- Perfect
- Fill Level
- Perfect
- Capsule Condition
- Perfect
Identité du vin
- Couleur
- Red
- Pays
- France
- Région
- Bordeaux
- Appellation
- Pauillac
- Producteur / Domaine
- Château Latour
- Cuvée
- Les Forts de Latour
- Millésime
- 2008
Cépage et assemblage
- Grape Variety
- 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot
Château Latour
Château Latour is a wine estate in Pauillac, in the Médoc, situated in the immediate vicinity of the Gironde estuary. Classified as a Premier Cru in the 1855 classification, its vineyard covers 96.5 hectares, of which the 47 hectares of the ‘Enclos’ surrounding the château are eligible for inclusion in the Grand Vin. The estate is owned by Artémis, the Pinault family’s holding company.
- Owner
- Artémis (famille Pinault)
- Maître de chais
- Pierre-Henri Chabot
- Surface (ha)
- 96.50 ha
- Production (average bottles per vintage)
- environ 300 000 bouteilles/an
Histoire du domaine
The earliest known reference to Latour dates from 1331 and concerns permission to build a fortified tower in the parish of Saint-Maubert. The fortress reappears in 1378 in Jean Froissart’s Chronicles, in the context of the Hundred Years’ War. Until the end of the 17th century, the estate remained in the hands of the de Mullet family. Through marriages and inheritance, it subsequently became the property of Alexandre de Ségur, whose family expanded its wine-growing operations. The vineyard covered 38 hectares in 1759 and 47 hectares in 1794. Château Latour was classified as a Premier Cru in 1855. From 1842 onwards, the descendants of the de Ségur family held the property through a civil company, before British shareholders gradually acquired stakes in the 20th century. Allied Lyons held 93 per cent of the shares in 1989, after which François Pinault acquired this stake in June 1993 through Artémis. Frédéric Engerer, who joined the estate in 1995, became its manager in 1998; a complete renovation of the winemaking and ageing facilities was carried out between 1999 and 2003. The estate ceased selling en primeur after the 2011 vintage and obtained organic certification in 2018. Hélène Génin now runs the estate, whilst Pierre-Henri Chabot is the cellar master.
Les Forts de Latour
Les Forts de Latour is a distinct wine from Château Latour, sourced from the periphery of the Enclos, external plots located in Pauillac, and, depending on their quality level, batches initially considered for the Grand Vin. It is crafted with the same care as the Grand Vin, but with a higher proportion of Merlot and a smaller share of new oak barrels.
- Origin of the cuvée name
- The name comes from a historical plot within "l'Enclos" called Les Forts de Latour.
- Cuvée creation year
- 1966
- Style of the cuvée
- A structured Pauillac wine intended for aging, generally marked by a higher proportion of Merlot than the Grand Vin. Its blend and parcel origins give it a more varied profile depending on the year, with aging typically involving 50 to 60% new oak barrels.
- Position within the range
- Second wine of Château Latour, positioned between the Grand Vin de Château Latour and the Pauillac de Château Latour.
Histoire de la cuvée
The wine was first produced and labeled under the name Les Forts de Latour in 1966, with the stated objective of reaching the level of a very good classified growth. Since then, the estate states that it has pursued continuous efforts in quality improvement.
