2003 Chateau Latour, Pauillac, Case of 6 btls

Château Latour needs no introduction: the First Growth that built its reputation on consistency rather than hitting peaks only in great years, with a tower on every label that’s stood over the Gironde for centuries.

2003 was Bordeaux’s first truly extreme hot vintage, a shock to a region that had never seen anything like it, with a sustained heatwave that gave vines no relief even overnight.

Latour’s deep gravel and clay subsoils, paired with old vines, carried the fruit through conditions that stressed vineyards elsewhere, and the result is a wine critics have called a genuine paradox: full of the vintage’s natural richness, yet showing the kind of elegance and poise more associated with cooler years.

Both Wine Advocate and The Wine Independent have awarded this wine perfect 100-point scores, a rare instance of two major critics landing on the same verdict for a vintage this unusual. It’s velvety and seductive with remarkable length, built on the kind of soft, well-integrated tannins that speak to this singular terroir asserting itself even in extreme heat.

This 6-bottle lot is offered in its original wooden case, a detail serious collectors look for when it comes to provenance and long-term storage.

Wine Advocate | 100 Points

"2003 was one of the hottest, earliest Bordeaux vintages ever. Some vines suffered from lack of moisture, but old vines and clay subsoil at Enclos saw this vineyard through. The Merlot harvest occurred between September 8 and 13, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was picked between September 22 and 30. The 2003 Latour is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Six percent of the press wine was added to the final blend. It has a medium to deep garnet-purple color, then wow—it explodes from the glass with bombastic black and blue fruits, followed up by meat, wood smoke, sandalwood and Indian spice accents with underlying floral wafts. The palate is full, rich, velvety, seductive and very long on the finish."

Wine Independent | 100 Points

"The 2003 Latour is a blend of 81.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 0.5% Petit Verdot. It explodes from the glass with crème de cassis, stewed plums, licorice, and mocha scents, followed by nuances of charcoal, rose oil, and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate delivers surprising elegance and jaw-dropping poise with well-knit freshness and super-soft tannins, finishing with incredible length and grace. It’s a real paradox of a wine coming from this very hot vintage and a testament to the Enclos’ singular terroir." 

James Suckling | 100 Points

"A very flamboyant and exciting Latour. Sliced black truffles, sweet leather, spices, and dark fruits on the nose. Full and powerful, with roasted fruit and leather undertones. Big and velvety, with polished, almost dusty tannins, and a super long finish. This leans more towards sexy than intellectual. Very concentrated."