The future of the renowned Château Latour vineyard was in question after it emerged that the investment bank Lazard is discreetly offering the label for sale to French competitors.

Owned by the French business tycoon and president of the luxury-goods group PPR, François Pinault, Château Latour is regarded as one of the finest wines from the Medoc region.

The Château Latour estate consists of 78 hectares of Bordeaux vineyards but only grapes from the 47 hectares that surround the chateau at the heart of the estate are used to make the Grand Vin de Château Latour.