Latour
About Château Latour
Latour has, in many ways, always been the most forward-thinking and disruptive First Growth, ever since its original rise to prominence under the Ségur family in the 18th century. Its decision not to participate in En Primeur had a rippling effect throughout the fine wine world, and whilst it has not precipitated a broader move away from the system by other estates, the vast majority of Bordelais properties have certainly reduced the amount of their wine offered in this way choosing to hold back stock to be released upon maturity. A sign of Latour's influence upon the entire region.
The Vineyard and the Wine
There is an ancient Médoc saying - to make great wine, you must be able to see the water. No other First Growth is closer to the Gironde's estuary than this imposing estate, contributing to simply extraordinary terroir which means that Latour has an enviable (and uncanny) ability to produce outstanding wine in difficult years. In favourable years, the vineyard soaks up extra heat reflected from the water's surface. In unpleasant years, the property is protected from extremes by the moderating effect of the estuary's regulatory benefits.
This dream terroir allows the winemaking team to focus on a variety of aspects of viticulture safe in the knowledge that nature will see them through the worst - and focus they have! Ever the pioneers, Latour was one of the first châteaux to introduce cutting-edge processes such as satellite imaging of distinct plots, sensors assessing vine vigour and even wind-direction monitoring before the application of fully biodynamic treatments.
Château Latour has a distinctly high proportion of clay in the soil throughout its vineyard. Whilst unusual for Pauillac, it is, in fact, the very same clay upon which the vines of Château Pétrus are planted in Pomerol. Obviously found in far smaller quantities and dominated by glorious Left Bank gravel, the result of this composition is a wine of unfathomable texture, richness, concentration and spine-tingling freshness - for which Latour garnered the epithet "an iron fist in a velvet glove".
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 2 | 96 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£1,352.44 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96)The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£3,060.07 |
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Wine Advocate (97)2010 was a very dry vintage of exceptional quality, producing incredibly structured and complex wines that are a little formidable when young but should age incredibly. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose of the 2010 Les Forts de Latour is broody with subtle notes of licorice, tar, crushed black berries and plums with hints of spice cake and hoisin. Full-bodied, firm and grainy with an impenetrable core of muscular fruit, it finishes with fantastic persistence. Give it 5-7 years at least, and then it may well outlive the 1970 Les Forts that I recently tasted with Latour's CEO, Frédéric Engerer! |
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|
Bordeaux | 2 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,425.64 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)2010 was a very dry vintage of exceptional quality, producing incredibly structured and complex wines that are a little formidable when young but should age incredibly. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose of the 2010 Les Forts de Latour is broody with subtle notes of licorice, tar, crushed black berries and plums with hints of spice cake and hoisin. Full-bodied, firm and grainy with an impenetrable core of muscular fruit, it finishes with fantastic persistence. Give it 5-7 years at least, and then it may well outlive the 1970 Les Forts that I recently tasted with Latour's CEO, Frédéric Engerer! |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£607.61 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Aromas of iron, rust and hot stones with currants and dark berries follow through to a full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins and a long and polished finish. Racy and driven. Drink in 2022. |
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|
Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£371.60 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Aromas of iron, rust and hot stones with currants and dark berries follow through to a full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins and a long and polished finish. Racy and driven. Drink in 2022. |
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|
Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,187.44 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Aromas of iron, rust and hot stones with currants and dark berries follow through to a full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins and a long and polished finish. Racy and driven. Drink in 2022. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£1,425.64 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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|
Bordeaux | 4 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£642.41 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£2,058.46 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£1,498.84 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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|
Bordeaux | 11 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£1,326.04 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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|
Bordeaux | 10 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,341.64 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Juicy and spicy with fresh tobacco, redcurrants and crushed stone character. Medium to full body. Medium velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Will age beautifully as well. Better after 2026. |
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|
Bordeaux | 3 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£612.41 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Juicy and spicy with fresh tobacco, redcurrants and crushed stone character. Medium to full body. Medium velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Will age beautifully as well. Better after 2026. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£762.02 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Juicy and spicy with fresh tobacco, redcurrants and crushed stone character. Medium to full body. Medium velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Will age beautifully as well. Better after 2026. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,197.64 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Juicy and spicy with fresh tobacco, redcurrants and crushed stone character. Medium to full body. Medium velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Will age beautifully as well. Better after 2026. |
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|
Bordeaux | 5 | 95 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£1,243.24 |
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The Wine Independent (95)Les Forts de Latour 2018 is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a fair bit of coaxing to unlock bright, youthful notes of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries, and warm plums, plus hints of licorice, violets, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has exquisitely ripe, fine-knit tannins and fantastic tension supporting the layered black and red fruits, finishing very long and fragrant. Classy! |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,418.47 |
|||||
James Suckling (100)A very complex nose of lavender, currants, spices, and hot stones. Full and dense on the palate, with a very tight structure. The tannins have a perfect polish to their density, and the finish is very intense, with wonderful fruit and truffle character. This turns almost decadent, with tremendous energy and a constantly changing profile. This is a very challenging wine to get to know, please leave this for at least ten years. Pull the cork in 2015. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 96 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£1,111.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (96)The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. |
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|
Bordeaux | 2 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£2,518.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)2010 was a very dry vintage of exceptional quality, producing incredibly structured and complex wines that are a little formidable when young but should age incredibly. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose of the 2010 Les Forts de Latour is broody with subtle notes of licorice, tar, crushed black berries and plums with hints of spice cake and hoisin. Full-bodied, firm and grainy with an impenetrable core of muscular fruit, it finishes with fantastic persistence. Give it 5-7 years at least, and then it may well outlive the 1970 Les Forts that I recently tasted with Latour's CEO, Frédéric Engerer! |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,172.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)2010 was a very dry vintage of exceptional quality, producing incredibly structured and complex wines that are a little formidable when young but should age incredibly. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose of the 2010 Les Forts de Latour is broody with subtle notes of licorice, tar, crushed black berries and plums with hints of spice cake and hoisin. Full-bodied, firm and grainy with an impenetrable core of muscular fruit, it finishes with fantastic persistence. Give it 5-7 years at least, and then it may well outlive the 1970 Les Forts that I recently tasted with Latour's CEO, Frédéric Engerer! |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£501.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Aromas of iron, rust and hot stones with currants and dark berries follow through to a full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins and a long and polished finish. Racy and driven. Drink in 2022. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£307.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Aromas of iron, rust and hot stones with currants and dark berries follow through to a full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins and a long and polished finish. Racy and driven. Drink in 2022. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£973.50 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Aromas of iron, rust and hot stones with currants and dark berries follow through to a full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins and a long and polished finish. Racy and driven. Drink in 2022. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£1,172.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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|
Bordeaux | 4 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£530.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£1,694.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£1,233.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 11 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£1,089.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 10 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,102.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Juicy and spicy with fresh tobacco, redcurrants and crushed stone character. Medium to full body. Medium velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Will age beautifully as well. Better after 2026. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 3 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£505.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Juicy and spicy with fresh tobacco, redcurrants and crushed stone character. Medium to full body. Medium velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Will age beautifully as well. Better after 2026. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£627.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Juicy and spicy with fresh tobacco, redcurrants and crushed stone character. Medium to full body. Medium velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Will age beautifully as well. Better after 2026. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£982.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Juicy and spicy with fresh tobacco, redcurrants and crushed stone character. Medium to full body. Medium velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Will age beautifully as well. Better after 2026. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 5 | 95 (WI) |
In Bond
£1,020.00 |
|||||
The Wine Independent (95)Les Forts de Latour 2018 is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a fair bit of coaxing to unlock bright, youthful notes of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries, and warm plums, plus hints of licorice, violets, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has exquisitely ripe, fine-knit tannins and fantastic tension supporting the layered black and red fruits, finishing very long and fragrant. Classy! |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,150.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (100)A very complex nose of lavender, currants, spices, and hot stones. Full and dense on the palate, with a very tight structure. The tannins have a perfect polish to their density, and the finish is very intense, with wonderful fruit and truffle character. This turns almost decadent, with tremendous energy and a constantly changing profile. This is a very challenging wine to get to know, please leave this for at least ten years. Pull the cork in 2015. |