France Bordeaux Chateau Latour Bottles

Château Latour Launches 2017 Grand Vin

Château Latour 2017 was released on March 19 at around GBP 4,800 (EUR 5,617) per 12-bottle case in bond, making its market debut.

UK merchants also offered Latour 2017 in various formats. Farr Vintners listed a double magnum for GBP 1,800 (EUR 2,107) in bond, while Bordeaux Index offered a three-bottle case for GBP 1,215 (EUR 1,422) (3x75cl IB).

Decanter’s Bordeaux correspondent Georgie Hindle rated Château Latour 2017 at 98 points after tasting it in January 2024. The estate's second wine, Les Forts de Latour 2018, rated 93 points by Hindle, was also released and offered by merchants at EUR 2,000 (EUR 2,341) (12x75cl IB), according to Liv-ex, a global marketplace for the wine trade.

Latour 2017 Released Ahead of 2016

Latour 2017 is now the youngest grand vin from the first growth estate on the market. In 2012, Latour announced its departure from Bordeaux’s en primeur system, opting to age its wines for several years before release. Typically, Latour 2016 would have been released this year, but the estate decided to switch the order.

A Château spokesperson explained to Decanter, "[The Château Latour] 2017 is currently much more open and accessible, and it’s clear 2016 will benefit from an extra year of ageing in our cellar." Additionally, Pauillac de Château Latour 2019 (rated 91 points by Decanter) was released in January 2024.

Analysis

Bordeaux 2017 is known for being an earlier-drinking vintage. In her Latour 2017 tasting note, Hindle praised its delightful freshness and approachability, stating, "[It’s] a wine that knocks it out of the park and one so representative of Bordeaux and the Pauillac terroir."

Latour 2017 offers a significant discount compared to the 98-point Latour 2015, which was listed by Farr Vintners at GBP 6,200 (EUR 7,256) (12x75cl IB) last year. Farr Vintners and Bordeaux Index are offering Latour 2014 (96 points, Decanter) at a similar price to the newly released Latour 2017. Liv-ex noted that the 2017 release at GBP 4,800 (EUR 5,617) (12x75cl IB) is cheaper than the equivalent release price for Latour 2015 at GBP 6,300 (EUR 7,373). However, it also pointed out that several other vintages, such as 2008 and 2012, are available at lower prices.

Latour 2017 is one of several high-profile fine wine releases through La Place de Bordeaux négociants in March, providing insight into buyer sentiment in 2024. On the secondary market, indicators suggest that fine wine prices have declined over the past year. Liv-ex’s Fine Wine 50 index, tracking Bordeaux first growths, dropped by 15.6% in the 12 months to February 29, and was down 2% over five years, despite gains between April 2020 and September 2022.

 

Source: Decanter

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