Les Forts de Latour
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 8–25 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, prime rib of beef, roasted duck
✨ wine.spec_sheet
First officially released with the 1966 vintage, Les Forts de Latour is widely regarded as one of the finest second wines in Bordeaux, often rivaling classified growths in its own right. Rather than being a simple selection of lesser vats, Les Forts is sourced from dedicated plots outside the historic 'l'Enclos' vineyard, including Petit Batailley and Sainte-Anne, as well as young vines from the estate's core. Its name evokes the historic fortified tower that guarded the estate during the Hundred Years' War. Crafted with the same uncompromising standards as the Grand Vin, it undergoes aging in French oak barrels (typically 50% to 60% new) to develop its signature Pauillac structure, marked by intense black fruit, cedar, and refined tannins.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Situated in the heart of the Pauillac appellation in Bordeaux, France, Château Latour is a legendary First Growth estate whose viticultural heritage dates back to the 14th century, later flourishing under the influential Ségur family in the late 17th century. Currently owned by François Pinault's Groupe Artémis, the estate is celebrated for its uncompromising dedication to terroir, transitioning its historic 47-hectare core vineyard, "l'Enclos," to fully certified organic and biodynamic farming practices. The winery is globally renowned for producing powerful, deeply structured, and exceptionally long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant red wines. Its prestigious portfolio is anchored by the iconic Grand Vin, Château Latour, and its highly acclaimed second wine, Les Forts de Latour, both of which epitomize the precision, elegance, and gravel-rich terroir of Pauillac.