Latour to release ‘totality’ of 2000 stocks

The next releases from Latour will be the remaining stocks of the estate’s 2000 grand vin and the 2009 vintage of Les Forts de Latour, the château has revealed.

The release of the 2000 tranche represents the “totality of stock still available at the estate,” Latour said in a statement, while adding that, at 16 years old, it still had “excellent cellaring potential”.

Since leaving the en primeur process in 2012 after the 2011 vintage campaign, the first growth has released a tranche of aged stock from its cellars each March and September.

The initial releases were introduced into a depressed Bordeaux market and at quite significant premiums to wines from the same vintage that were already in the market.

It would be fair to say that the first few ex-cellar releases were not well received by either merchants or collectors.

The situation is changing however, the premiums have been cut back, the price of last year’s tranche of 2003 was hailed as “punchy” by merchants and the Bordeaux market is climbing quickly.

Although the Bordeaux indices on Liv-ex are being driven upward by non-first growth wines, the second wines are powering ahead and both of the vintages slated for release are exceptionally well-regarded.

It seems likely that both the trade and collectors will be interested in seeing what there is to be had from the release – which often include large formats – if the price is right.

The 2000 grand vin has a 98-point score from Robert Parker, 18.5+ from Jancis Robinson MW and 100 from James Suckling.

Although, like most blue chip Bordeaux, it is down from its 2011 peak it still has a benchmark market price on Liv-ex of £7,200 per case.

The 2009 Forts de Latour meanwhile is rated 95 by Parker, -18.5 by Robinson and 94-95 by Suckling and it has a benchmark price of £1,290 – which is actually 12.5% below its release price.

The wines are scheduled for release towards the end of this month.