Château Latour, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac
    Château Latour

    Château Latour, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac,

    Destination

    vintage

    Château Latour, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 1998

    Justerini & Brooks Tasting note
    Château Latour, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 1998
    Maturity:
    Drink
    ABV:
    13%
    98/100
    Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
    Expectations are high when you open a top flight estate in one of Bordeaux’s most revered vintages, and the 2005 Latour, while still being stubborn, is poised to deliver the goods. So many layers to get through, and it moves in distinct stages, from sweet-salty dark chocolate and soy sauce through to earthy cassis and blackberries, finishing up with a delicate burst of rosebuds and violet flowers, and a saline, slate and mint kick on the finish. The flavours remain hidden at first and need coaxing - there is definitely no rush to open, and it may still be going through something of a dumb phase, but I have been lucky enough to taste this wine a few times this year, and this week’s example was one of the best, really beginning to grow into its potential, and showing plenty of old school Latour power. There are fireworks but you have to wait for them, and ideally I would still give it another few years. 100% new oak. This wine has been released En Primeur, then again in March 2017, and this is the third and final release. Harvest between September 26 and October 6. Decanted three hours before tasting, and it needs another few hours to fully open.
    Date Reviewed:
    10/2021
    Drinking Window:
    2021 - 2045
    100/100
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
    The 2005 Latour is made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it gallops out of the glass with incredibly youthful, powerful creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves scents, followed by wafts of violets, licorice, eucalyptus, and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, super-concentrated, and energetic in the mouth, it has a rock-solid structure of firm, beautifully ripe tannins and so many layers, finishing on a long, lingering anise note. While it is beautifully open and expressive at the moment, it remains incredibly primary and therefore could be a disappointment for those seeking a more evolved, tertiary experience. I would give it another 5-7 years in bottle, at least, knowing this will likely cellar to 2070 and beyond.
    Date Reviewed:
    07/2022
    Drinking Window:
    2027 - 2070
    100/100
    Antonio Galloni, Vinous
    The 2005 Latour was mind-blowingly profound in two recent tastings for this report. Deep and sensual to the core, the 2005 is utterly captivating. All the elements are so seamlessly put together. Graphite, crème de cassis, licorice, dark spice and lavender infuse the 2005 with so much energy. More than anything else, though, the 2005 is a Latour of texture and resonance. 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. Tasted two times.
    Date Reviewed:
    04/2021
    Drinking Window:
    2022 - 2055

    specifications

    country:
    France
    region:
    Bordeaux
    Appellation:
    Pauillac
    Producer:
    Château Latour
    style:
    Red
    Grape Variety:
    Cab Sauvignon Merlot
    Allergen Information:
    This product may contain sulphites. Full allergen information is available upon request, please call our Customer Relations Team on +44 (0)20 7484 6430.

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    Château Latour

    Château Latour

    This great and historic estate is rightly regarded as one of the preeminent properties in Bordeaux and one of the greatest wines of the world. Along with Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild, Latour completes the three First Growths of Pauillac. It has become synonymous with wines of gravitas, scale and tremendous aging potential.

    The last change of ownership occurred in 1993, when the billionaire, François Pinault returned this bastion of Bordeaux to French hands. He appointed the meticulous Frédéric Engerer as technical Director, and Latour has enjoyed a period of unparalleled success ever since. It’s a marriage of meticulous, perfectionist viticulture and wine-making and extraordinary terroir.

    The grand vin hails from the 47 Hectare “Grand Enclos”, the vineyards which surrounds the winery and abuts the Clos of Leoville Las Cases in St Julien to the south. The topsoil is made up of Gunzian gravel, brought to the area from the Pyrenees and the Massif Central during the Pleistocene with a subsoil of marl and clay above a deeper ridge of limestone. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant varietal (80%), with Merlot (18%) and Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot accounting for just 2% of plantings. The excellent second wine, Les Forts de Latour is arguably equal to notable Second Growths, however, demand from Asia ensures a luxury price tag... There is also a third wine, simply called “Pauillac”.

    Sadly, the Chateau’s board decided to remove Latour from the en primeur market. 2011 was the last vintage released as a future. The strategy to offer mature wines from their cellars is well established now, with a major release each March and a smaller proposal in September.

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