1 dozen bottles per lot
Details
MULTIPLES OF THE VERY BEST FROM 2003 PLUS A CHANCE TO FILL IN CASE VERTICALS OF TOP BORDEAUX CHÂTEAU
CHATEAU LATOUR
Described by Thomas Jefferson, following his first visit to Bordeaux in May 1787, as one of the '4 vineyards of first quality', La Tour de Segur, as it was then known has a very long and distinguished history. It's famous tower and vineyards are in full view - albeit at some distance - from the ships plying the broad Gironde and are close to the small town of Pauillac. It's recent history, but not the quality of the wine, has been a bit chequered, the de Beaumont Family selling in 1962 its majority stake, to Lord Cowdray's family and Harveys of Bristol who considerably later sold to Allied Domecq. It's current proud owner is Mr. Francois Pinault who also, coincidentally, now owns Christie's.
Presently, the Estate consists of over 192 acres of vineyards. The 116 acres which surround the Château, the heart of the estate, are called l'Enclos. Only the grapes from these 116 acres make the Grand Vin de Château Latour. This vineyard has a typical Médoc topography, with a gentle rise in the ground, bounded on the north and south by two small streams, and on the east by the "palus", the low lying meadows by the river. But this Enclos benefits from a very unique terroir that combines an optimized sub-soil nutrition for the vines, the Gironde river which tempers extreme weather conditions, and a typical Médoc climate, largely influenced by the Atlantic ocean, which allows the grapes to reach maturation under favourable conditions.
This combination, a true gift of Nature, determines the personality and the characteristics of the wine of Château Latour. It also imposes, almost naturally, a selective choice of grape varieties. There is, first of all, a perfect association between the Cabernet Sauvignon and this terroir, as it represents around 80 percent of the total planted. This grape variety manages to take the best out of this poor gravels soil by digging deep to its ressources and water, in the layers of clay underneath. This very selective nutrition will naturally bring concentration, deep colour and tannic structure to the wine. The Merlot can represent as much as 18 percent of the Grand Vin, and plays an important role in regulating and softening the Cabernet Sauvignon. It is planted mainly on the lower parcels of the "Enclos", where the gravels layers are a little less deep, and where the marls and clay layers can be reached more easily by the vines. This will bring roundness and power to the final wine. Two other grape varieties, the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot account for 2 percent of the total planted vineyard, and are in most cases mixed in with the parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Property of a Gentleman
Recently removed from temperature controlled storage
Château Latour--Vintage 2003
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
All lots in original wooden cases
Parcel: lots aaa-eee
"Unusual because of its extraordinary opulence, voluptuous texture, and almost over-the-top thickness and richness, the 2003 Latour is somewhat reminiscent of the 1982. This amazingly profound wine (only 10,500 cases made of a blend of 81 Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot) has an inky/purple color and a wonderfully sweet, almost exotic nose of black fruits intermixed with some scorched earth, fig, plum, and blackberry liqueuer. It is a massive, multi-layered wine, with enormous quantities of glycerin and richness, low acidity, elevated alcohol (13, and a hugh, unctuous texture. It is unusual to find Latour so friendly and accessible with such huge levels of fruit and extract. This is truly a compelling Latour, if somewhat atypical. I remember how the 1982 tasted early on, and this wine is built somewhat along those lines, but potentially even richer. The finish just goes on and on, and although I didn't clock it, the aftertaste lingers well past a minute. This wine will be surprisingly accessible young, but age effortlessly for three to four decades." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #158 (April 2005)
1 dozen bottles per lot
CHATEAU LATOUR
Described by Thomas Jefferson, following his first visit to Bordeaux in May 1787, as one of the '4 vineyards of first quality', La Tour de Segur, as it was then known has a very long and distinguished history. It's famous tower and vineyards are in full view - albeit at some distance - from the ships plying the broad Gironde and are close to the small town of Pauillac. It's recent history, but not the quality of the wine, has been a bit chequered, the de Beaumont Family selling in 1962 its majority stake, to Lord Cowdray's family and Harveys of Bristol who considerably later sold to Allied Domecq. It's current proud owner is Mr. Francois Pinault who also, coincidentally, now owns Christie's.
Presently, the Estate consists of over 192 acres of vineyards. The 116 acres which surround the Château, the heart of the estate, are called l'Enclos. Only the grapes from these 116 acres make the Grand Vin de Château Latour. This vineyard has a typical Médoc topography, with a gentle rise in the ground, bounded on the north and south by two small streams, and on the east by the "palus", the low lying meadows by the river. But this Enclos benefits from a very unique terroir that combines an optimized sub-soil nutrition for the vines, the Gironde river which tempers extreme weather conditions, and a typical Médoc climate, largely influenced by the Atlantic ocean, which allows the grapes to reach maturation under favourable conditions.
This combination, a true gift of Nature, determines the personality and the characteristics of the wine of Château Latour. It also imposes, almost naturally, a selective choice of grape varieties. There is, first of all, a perfect association between the Cabernet Sauvignon and this terroir, as it represents around 80 percent of the total planted. This grape variety manages to take the best out of this poor gravels soil by digging deep to its ressources and water, in the layers of clay underneath. This very selective nutrition will naturally bring concentration, deep colour and tannic structure to the wine. The Merlot can represent as much as 18 percent of the Grand Vin, and plays an important role in regulating and softening the Cabernet Sauvignon. It is planted mainly on the lower parcels of the "Enclos", where the gravels layers are a little less deep, and where the marls and clay layers can be reached more easily by the vines. This will bring roundness and power to the final wine. Two other grape varieties, the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot account for 2 percent of the total planted vineyard, and are in most cases mixed in with the parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Property of a Gentleman
Recently removed from temperature controlled storage
Château Latour--Vintage 2003
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
All lots in original wooden cases
Parcel: lots aaa-eee
"Unusual because of its extraordinary opulence, voluptuous texture, and almost over-the-top thickness and richness, the 2003 Latour is somewhat reminiscent of the 1982. This amazingly profound wine (only 10,500 cases made of a blend of 81 Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot) has an inky/purple color and a wonderfully sweet, almost exotic nose of black fruits intermixed with some scorched earth, fig, plum, and blackberry liqueuer. It is a massive, multi-layered wine, with enormous quantities of glycerin and richness, low acidity, elevated alcohol (13, and a hugh, unctuous texture. It is unusual to find Latour so friendly and accessible with such huge levels of fruit and extract. This is truly a compelling Latour, if somewhat atypical. I remember how the 1982 tasted early on, and this wine is built somewhat along those lines, but potentially even richer. The finish just goes on and on, and although I didn't clock it, the aftertaste lingers well past a minute. This wine will be surprisingly accessible young, but age effortlessly for three to four decades." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #158 (April 2005)
1 dozen bottles per lot
Special notice
ParcelWine