Merchants on standby for Latour 2003 release
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Chateau Latour has been testing the waters in the market and is expected to release around a thousand cases of its 2003 vintage ahead of the en primeur week for the Bordeaux 2014.
A horse ploughs between the vines at Chateau Latour
Bordeaux first growth Latour announced yesterday (2 March) that it would be releasing an unspecified quantity of its 2003 grand vin and also some of its second wine, Les Forts de Latour, from the 2008 vintage.
The releases are expected in mid-March, following a pattern of back-vintage releases that Latour began in 2013 after its withdrawal from the Bordeaux en primeur system.
A spokesperson for Latour told Decanter.com that the estate wouldn’t release price information on the wines at this stage, but that it has discussed options with negociants.
Consumer demand for Bordeaux has shown signs of recovery in recent months, according to analysts at Liv-ex and Bordeaux Index, and particularly for the 2005 vintage. The Latour release will be another test of demand for back-vintages.
One merchant who did not wish to be identified told Decanter.com that Latour was expected to release around 1,000 cases of its 2003, plus around 3,000 cases of the Forts de Latour. The source added that 2003 was expected to be priced at a slight premium to the market, possibly at up to £7,000 per case of 12 bottles, but no final price had been confirmed.
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It is believed to be the final stocks of the wines being held at the chateau.
Written by Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.
He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.
Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.
Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.