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Spotlight On: Château Latour 2000 and 2003

John Siudut

Posted: Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Château Latour is one of the most consistent châteaus in Bordeaux in terms of quality, and in great vintages is always among the leaders in price appreciation.

The 2003 vintage (98 points, $550 release price, current price $989) was released in 2006 and has nearly doubled in value on the auction market. The 2000 vintage (100, $475 release price) was released in 2003, during a relatively quiescent period in the auction market, and only after two years did its auction price exceed its release price. Since the second quarter of 2006, however, the 2000 has spiked in price and now averages around $1,050. The mature 1982 vintage (98, $41, $1,761) commands higher auction prices than either the 2000 or the 2003.

Expect upward pressure from the incoming 2005 vintage to boost prices across the board. The Latour 2005 has yet to be reviewed as a finished wine, but it is probably going to be one of the top wines from the vintage, according to the barrel tasting done by James Suckling in early 2006. The futures price has already climbed to around $800 a bottle.

The 1982 and the 2000 Château Latour wines can be found in the upcoming Sotheby's sale on Nov. 17, 2007, in New York.

This data comes from the Wine Spectator Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions. This chart plots the average price of Château Latour 1982, 2000 and 2003.

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