Château Latour, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2015

The 2015 Latour has such a refined nose that's perhaps more laid back than other vintages, unfolding with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and pencil shavings. This is discreet yet compelling and wonderfully delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins, exquisite balance, real weight and tension. This has a long and tender, graphite-tinged finish. As I wrote before: cool, calm and collected. Superb. Tasted at the 2015 Ten-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2055

date of review 06/2025

Intense, a reminder of how Latour sets the benchmark for how to respond to hot vintages over in Pauillac. There is a muscular set to the tannins, woven through delicate slate and crayon edge, with touches of fragrant fennel and aniseed, black tea, chamomile, crushed roses, excellent quality. A rare Pauillac that is better than the 2014. Harvest September 15 to October 10, 30% of production in the main wine. Hélène Genin technical director.

DRINKING WINDOW 2025 - 2045

date of review 02/2025

A rich and demonstrative vintage for this estate, the 2015 Latour unfurls in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, loamy soil, espresso roast, pencil shavings and a subtle hint of potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, supple and elegant, with a velvety attack that segues into a sweet, layered mid-palate, it's enveloping and complete, concluding with a sapid finish. The tauter, more classical 2014 is likely to prove longer lived, whereas the giving 2015 is a Latour that it wouldn't be a crime to drink young.

DRINKING WINDOW 2025 - 2050

date of review 04/2023