- Château Latour has released its 2005 vintage ex-cellar.
- The wine is being offered internationally for £9,000 (12×75).
- This will be the final tranche of ex-cellar 2005 ever offered.
The final 950 cases of Château Latour’s 2005 vintage have been released this morning (7th September).
The wine was released for €780 per bottle ex-négociant and is being offered international for around £9,000 per dozen.
This is 26% above the current Market Price of previously released stock; which is available for £7,500 (12×75).
Critical opinion
Back in April, Antonio Galloni issued a Bordeaux 2005 retrospective for Vinous. Latour was one of the wines elevated to 100-points as a result of that tasting.
He said: “Deep and sensual to the core, the 2005 is utterly captivating. Even after several hours, the 2005 is fresh and full of energy. Wines like this are just life affirming. That’s about all I can really say.”
Slightly older notes from Neal Martin and the Wine Advocate both rated the 2005 Latour 98 (98+ in the case of the Wine Advocate).
Martin commented that: “The 2005 Latour has long been a formidable wine. There is immense weight and presence in the mouth, although I wonder whether the tannins are as fine as say the 2010 or even the nascent 2016 Latour tasted alongside? Either way, it remains a fabulous First Growth destined to last many, many years.”
Fair value
As with other ex-cellar Latour releases, interest in today’s offer with depend on which collectors feel they are missing the 2005 in their cellars.
With Galloni’s 100-point rating in play, today’s release ends up below the Fair Value line, comparing very favourably to fellow “great” vintages, 2009 and 2010.
Older stocks of 2005 – where they are available – naturally look good value given the premium on today’s last tranche.
The “off” vintages of 2008 and 2012 both look compelling as well at their current levels.
