Chateau Latour pictured on a sunny day in April 2018
The famous gravelly/stony surface of the soil in Latour's vineyard
Hélène Genin, Latour's technical director, takes care of wines for tasting. Two carafles for the 2021 Les Forts and Grand Vin and two for the 2020 Les Forts and Grand Vin!
Chateau Latour is a renowned estate in Pauillac commune that gained popularity in 1718 when Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur inherited it. The de Ségur family owned Latour for 250 years and other famous wineries like Lafite, Mouton Rothschild, and Calon Ségur. In 1855, Latour was classified as 1st Growth.
In 1963, two British companies, Harveys of Bristol and Pearson Group, purchased 75% of shares in Latour from the de Ségur family's descendants. Allied Lyons, who already owned 25% of shares in Latour, bought out Harveys of Bristol and Pearson Group in 1989. Then, Francois Pinault, owner of France's biggest department store chain, purchased Latour in July 1993. Two years later, Frédéric Engerer was hired as the daily manager, and he has since brought about significant improvements in the winemaking team, vineyard, and vinification cellar.
Latour's vineyard borders the Gironde river, providing a unique microclimate that shields it against winter and spring frost. During the spring frost in April 1991, Latour lost only 30% of production in its Grand Enclos vineyard, which accounts for 47 ha of Latour's total 78 ha vineyard and supplies grapes to Grand Vin.
The soil's surface is a deep layer of gravel containing small and big stones, while the subsoil is a mixture of clay, marble, and sand. The grape varieties used are Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc (4%), and Petit Verdot (1%). The vines are, on average, 40 years old, and the wine is aged for 18 months in 100% new barrels.
Latour is the most concentrated and potent first-growth, and Cabernet Sauvignon is of outstanding quality here. The wine has blackcurrants, mint, and leather notes, and its unique microclimate and soil conditions give it incredible strength, depth, richness, and length, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Most of the tasting notes below are from a March 2006 Copenhagen tasting of 30 vintages of Latour. However, not all wines were in pristine condition, as they were purchased at different auctions and from private collectors. They had probably traveled the world several times before meeting the person who arranged the tasting.
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Latour 2023 (barrel sample) 98+p
Tasted in April 2024. 92.3% Cabernet Sauvignon + 7.7% Merlot. 13.2% alcohol. It is an elegant version of this First Growth with intense blackcurrants, finesse, tenderness, a sophisticated touch, and a multi-layered palate. There is remarkable purity, midpalate, and acidity. Long finish. It's stupendous wine and an impressive effort.
Latour 2021 97p
Latour 2020 99-100p
Latour 2018 (barrel sample) 98-100p
Tasted in April 2019. Powerful with a lot of fat fruit and tannin, exceptional balance, and a long, meaty aftertaste. Massive wine, and well on the way to being a legend! 14.3% alcohol. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot.
Latour 2017 97p
I tasted it twice - last time in April 2024. Consistent notes. It is an elegant wine with finesse and richness. It is a bit lighter than the 2015 and 2016 vintages, but the quality is exceptionally high. It is sophisticated and long on the palate. Simply excellent stuff.
Latour 2016 (barrel sample) 98-100p
Tasted in April 2017. This wine showed seamless structure, sophisticated touch, big concentration, and intensity on the nose and palate. Perfect balance. A dazzling future awaits.
Latour 2015 (barrel sample) 96+p
Tasted in April 2016. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon + 3% Merlot. Closed on the nose, powerhouse on the palate, great depth and complexity. It needs time to develop into something extraordinary.
Latour 2014 95p
Tasted twice - last time in November 2021. More elegant than powerful, the nose was better than the palate, with silky fruit, tannin, and a smooth aftertaste. Indeed, it's not a hammer blow, more of a soft slap to your face, but I'm sure this wine will gain weight and concentration later in its development. This was in March 2015, and when retasted in November 2021, it certainly put on weight and concentration. A wine for long-term keeping.
Latour 2013 (barrel sample) 94+p
Tasted in April 2014. This wine was strong for the vintage, with a powerful structure and backbone, intense fruit, ripe tannin, great complexity, and a long finish. Probably the best 1. Cru wine in this vintage.
Latour 2012 (barrel sample) 94+p
Tasted in April 2013. Latour was a feminine wine with silky fruit and tannin, splendid length, depth, and balance. More finesse than power here.
Latour 2011 (barrel sample) 96-97p
Tasted in April 2012. This wine was powerful and tight but, at the same time, refined and sophisticated. Stunning depth, complexity, richness, and balance. As always, this is awesome stuff from this property.
Latour 2010 99p
I tasted it three times, the last time in May 2013. Consistent notes. It was an incredibly sophisticated and refined wine, but I expected it to be more concentrated. However, there are many things to be hugely excited about, for this wine offers a myriad of nuances, velvety structure, immense depth, and length. It's a sublime wine that has several decades to reach apogee.
Latour 2009 (barrel sample) 98-100p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2011. Consistent notes. It was multidimensional in every "corner," with chocolate, mocha, black cherries, ripe tannin, and an exquisite balance. It's an incredibly complex wine with tremendous depth, richness, balance, and length. A legend.
Latour 2008 97p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2019. Not consistent notes. It has improved a lot since tasting from the barrel. A classic style of high-level Bordeaux wine and classic Latour with tobacco and leather flavors. On the nose, it was extremely catchy, elegant, and sophisticated, with intense black cherries. On the palate, it had multiple flavors and an extremely long aftertaste. A similar experience happened when I tasted it in April 2019.
Latour 2007 92p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2011. Consistent notes. This wine was silky in fruit and tannin, with exquisite balance, and overall on the elegant side. It was very seductive, with a soft and long finish. It shows its feminine side!
Latour 2006 95p
Tasted four times - the last time in April 2018. Not consistent notes. Similar to 2008 but with less intensity and ripeness of the fruit. This wine did not show well in April 2018 - dry and fruit slightly warm. Awkward stage?
Latour 2005 99p
Tasted five times - last time in April 2017. Consistent notes. When tasted in 2008, it had an almost coal-black color and a dense and powerful nose of black cherries, blueberries, and blackcurrants. Incredibly sophisticated and multi-dimensional on the palate, with an enormous load of super-ripe berries and silky tannins, stunning balance, and the highest quality aromatic fruit. It finished with an aftertaste, which lasted for about two minutes. It's already legendary, and it's sure to bet for 30-40 years of cellaring. It was slightly less impressive when tasted seven years later (2015). In April 2017 - it was closed at first sniff, but immense potential awaits. It was vibrant, complex, and long. Everything is here to make this wine a legend. 99-100p.
Latour 2004 96p
I tasted it three times, the last time in April 2014. It has consistent notes, a dense, deep red color, and a thick aroma of cherries and chocolate. It is tight, refined, rich, and splendidly balanced. It has a long finish. It is of wonderful quality.
Latour 2003 97p
Tasted four times - last time in October 2021. Not consistent notes. Deep red. It had a seductive and intense nose of perfectly ripe blackcurrants. Iron-strong structure with enormous depth and length and a mega-long aftertaste. Despite the hot August, the grapes didn't seem to have suffered a heat stroke, for there wasn't the slightest indication of warm and jammy fruit in this wine. It was Latour when it blossomed. Exceptional quality, which requires 25-30 years in the cellar. It was in April 2006. Nine years later, this wine got some age with truffles and plummy character. No more than 94p here. In October 2021, I tasted a significantly better bottle of this vintage. This wine reflected the scorching weather in August by displaying the flavor of licorice. It's a giant with walls of fruit and tannin. I rated it 98p.
Latour 2002 94p
I tasted it twice, the last time in April 2006. Consistent notes. It has an intense aroma of blackcurrants, really fine lusciousness and complexity, and splendid structure and depth. The first sips were light, but suddenly, something happened, and the wine became stronger and sappier, with a very long aftertaste. It is a brilliant wine for this vintage and can be enjoyed in the next 15-20 years.
Latour 2001 95p
Tasted in April 2006. It is a stunningly aromatic, beautifully constructed wine with exemplary balance, depth, nuance-richness, and impressive length. It was packed with luscious blackcurrants and silky tannins. It wasn't a giant, but a wine with softer shapes. Experience exquisite enjoyment in the next 20-25 years.
Latour 2000 100p
Tasted three times - last time in October 2021. Consistent notes. Almost black-red. It is a breathless wine with a highly intense aroma of perfectly ripe blackcurrants and blueberries. Ultra-concentrated berries with delightful lusciousness on the palate. It is intense, has an extravagantly strong structure, and has impressive width. Angels sing! It is a sure bet to cellar it in at least 30 years from now on. It was in March 2006. Ten years later, it is a monster wine with a fascinating nose of truffles. It is so fat on the palate that it can be cut in slices, with an almost oily texture, incredible richness, complexity, and sophisticated touch. 50+ years to live out the dream. A fantastic tribute to the vintage! In October 2021, this wine was still dressed in baby "clothes." Great potential and many years to go. Gobs of fruit and tannin are waiting patiently to reach the surface.
Latour 1996 96p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2021. Consistent notes. Dark red. This is a typical wine for the property, with a solid handful of superbly concentrated fruit and fat tannin. There was plenty of power and vigor, luscious blackcurrants and nuances. There was absolutely nothing to complain about this wine – exceptional quality. It will surely benefit from additional cellaring for at least 20 years. Fifteen years later, in October 2021, this wine tasted more refined, with a great style and sophisticated touch.
Latour 1995 94p
I tasted this wine in April 2013. It showed mature flavors, a touch of coffee, and fine complexity. The delicate balance and mellow finish make it OK to drink now.
Latour 1994 89p
Tasted in March 2006. The erratic weather in 1994 didn't allow grapes on the Left Bank to fully mature. Nevertheless, this wine was nice despite its light texture, with tasty fruit, nice structure, and length. It's at its peak now and will stay like that in 3-5 years.
Latour 1990 96p
Tasted in May 2013. This wine showed perfectly ripe fruit and truffles, was incredibly concentrated, had a strong structure, was sophisticated, and had an extremely long palate. Riveting elegance and finesse.
Latour 1989 92p
Tasted in June 2014. Tight, the scent of pencil, delicate balance and structure, fine complexity, and length. Quite a strong backbone and very good balance. It lacked a bit more concentration to be great.
Latour 1982 99p
Tasted four times - last time in October 2021. Consistent notes. There is an incredible intensity to everything. It's fantastic on the nose and palate. Breathless richness of nuances and length. It's truly a masterpiece with a bang! Keeps easily for another 20-25 years horizontally. I tasted it for the fourth time in October 2021. It was tremendous, but I had a better example of this wine. Tight, strong with gobs of perfectly measured fruit and tannin, fabulous complexity and length. 97+p.
Latour 1979 92p
Tasted in March 2006. Dark red. This wine had an intense nose and palate of ripe blackcurrants with delicious sweetness and spicy fruit. Strong tannin, which, however, wasn't allowed to dominate. It was a meaty wine with splendid structure and a long aftertaste. All in all, it was an extremely successful wine in one of the so-called lesser vintages. This wine should be able to entertain us for an additional 5-7 years.
Latour 1976 86p
Tasted in March 2006. Medium red. It is relatively light and old on the palate, with distinct flavors of well-preserved marmalade. Dry tannin and dry aftertaste. Indeed, this bottle hadn't been stored properly.
Latour 1975 88p
Tasted in March 2006. Medium red. Ripe berries with a scent of overripeness. Quite light. It was pleasant on the palate but quite dry in the aftertaste. It lacked concentration and sweetness and had quite dry tannins on the palate to be a gilt-edged experience. It won't profit from additional cellaring.
Latour 1971 94p
Tasted in October 2019. Very complex, refined, and sophisticated, still young and virile. Great depth and length. Strong backbone. Excellent effort.
Latour 1970 94-95p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2021. Consistent notes. It was a compact, well-structured, powerful wine with splendid depth and a lasting aftertaste. Undoubtedly, it was an ideally stored bottle with 41-year-old Latour in stunning form. It is a great pleasure now and in the next 5-10 years. Its life span seems longer, showing fine Cabernet Sauvignon notes on the nose, lovely balance and complexity on the palate, and a long finish. It is a well-preserved wine with everything in splendid order and still going strong.
Latour 1966 92p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2021. Not consistent notes. There was more of everything here than in Latour 1964, and first of all, more lusciousness in the fruit, greater concentration, and length on the palate. It's a great pleasure to drink now. 89p. I experienced a much better bottle in October 2021. It had a delicate blackcurrant-scented nose and added notes of grilled bacon. Typical for the vintage, with roughness and strong tannin on the palate. Meaty finish. It can keep everything intact for a decade, at least if the bottle has been stored in ideal conditions. 94p.
Latour 1964 88p
Tasted in March 2006. Delicate and intense nose of ripe blackcurrants and raspberries. It was packed with tannin, had a nice structure, was tasty, and was entertaining. Ready to drink.
Latour 1962 91-92p
Tasted in October 2021. Typical for the estate and Pauillac with graphite cedarwood and cigar box. However, it was a bit coarse on the palate and rather old on the nose. Maybe it wasn't the best bottle of this vintage to taste.
Latour 1961 99-100p.
Tasted twice - last time in October 2021. Consistent notes. We experienced a perfect bottle on the tasting day! At first sip, the wine tasted purely of Cabernet and showed delicious blackcurrants, tobacco leaves, mint, and leather. Densely built, rock-solid, ultra-concentrated wine with fat and powerful tannin, unique structure, and mega length. It hasn't reached full maturity yet. Will this wine do it after 10 or 20 years, for it seems purely eternal? It was in March 2006. Then, in October 2021, I tasted it again. As expected, it was a monumental wine. Sixty years old and not ready yet. Still young and vigorous. Oceans of fruit and tannin were excellently supported by underlying acidity. Enormous potential!
Latour 1960 94p
Tasted in March 2006. Deep red. Ripe raspberries and raspberry drops on the nose. This was an elegant, refined wine with a beautiful balance and a deliciously sweet aftertaste. It was a charming, stylish, and graceful wine that tasted magnificently. It should be able to be like that for an additional 4-5 years.
Latour 1958 90p
It was tasted in March 2006. It is medium red. It has a delicate and aromatic blackcurrant nose with some sweetness. It is a well-balanced, reliable, relatively light wine that finishes well in the aftertaste. It is ready to drink and, by the way, a really good Latour in this off-vintage.
Latour 1956 85p
Tasted in March 2006. Medium red. A scent of vanilla pudding on the nose. It was pretty tart and light on the palate, with a short aftertaste. Not the wine to be excited about.
Latour 1955 96p
Tasted three times - last time in October 2021. Not consistent notes. Deep red. It was a pleasant wine with luscious berries (blackcurrants and raspberries) on the nose, delicate balance, splendid structure, and a long-lasting aftertaste. There is more elegance than power here, and this was probably not an ideally stored bottle we tasted concerning this vintage. It was in March 2006. 93p. In April 2015, this wine was much fresher, richer, and longer on the palate. 95p. In October 2021, it was so nuanced, complex, and refined. It had much to offer with its power, vibrancy, fatness, exceptional depth, and length. Everything was perfect here. It was the third time I tasted it, and this bottle was undoubtedly my best. Fifteen more years of life, at least. I rated it 99p!
Latour 1953 92p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2021. Not consistent notes. Medium red. This Latour was made in a light version with luscious blackcurrants, was well-crafted, and had a fine length on the palate. There was a fight inside this wine about who was in the driving seat, between fruit and tannin, but neither of the competitors could take command on its own. The wine was in splendid condition but should be consumed in 1-2 years. It was in March 2006. 91p. I experienced a better bottle in October 2021. It was a somewhat dusty wine with notes of tobacco leaves and grilled bacon. Rather elegant than powerful, with delicate complexity and balance. After one hour in the glass, it picked up a scent of grated milk chocolate on the nose, making the wine very seductive. 93p.
Latour 1951 87p
Tasted in March 2006. Close to Latour 1958 in style, but barely so well-balanced and aromatic. It's a lovely wine for immediate consumption.
Latour 1950 89p
Tasted in March 2006. It reminded me much of Latour 1955, but the wine here was lighter and barely so long in the aftertaste. It had peaked several years ago.
Latour 1949 0p
Tasted in March 2006. I believe it was a wine that died during one of its countless travels worldwide. We disagreed, however, on this wine, just as we did with 1948.
Latour 1948 85p
Tasted in March 2006. Ugh! It was a pretty confusing wine, where tannin was in the front. Lovely fruit and length; otherwise, there was only a little to write about. Some of the participants in the tasting found this wine to be young and fresh, but I didn't!
Latour 1947 0p
Tasted in March 2006. This wine had passed away.
Latour 1946 87p
Tasted in March 2006. It is a mature wine, somewhat tart, but quite tasty anyway. It's a pretty light wine with lovely concentration and a pleasant aftertaste. Not at all a failed shot!
Latour 1945 86p
Tasted twice - last time in May 2020. Consistent notes. Champignon flavors, but otherwise, it is a nicely constructed wine. Lovely fruit and length. Not my cup of tea. The man behind the tasting told me that this bottle had always stayed in one place, and it was in Sweden. Despite that, it didn't impress. No luck with another bottle of this wine 14 years later. Power and a strong backbone were present, but there was also some volatile acidity and balance out of function. For me, this wine tasted somewhat disjointed and quite old.
Latour 1943 86p
Tasted in March 2006. It was a very mature wine, somewhat tart and light, but with relatively good balance. It had peaked 10-15 years ago and was well on the way to drying out.
Latour 1934 90p
Tasted in October 2021. It had some mushroomy sweet fruit on the nose and a nicely balanced palate, but it was apparent that this wine was declining and the fruit was running away. It was a bottle that visited many cellars on its way to Denmark.
Latour 1929 93p
Tasted in June 1990. Silky and pleasant with truffles and cherries, perfectly balanced, soft, and long aftertaste. Great treat.
Latour 1928 0p
Tasted in March 2006. This wine had unfortunately passed away.
Latour 1919 88p
Tasted in March 2006. Red-brown. It looked like well-preserved wine with pleasing, mature aromas on the nose, good balance, and quite tasty. This wine was quite a success despite the vintage.
Our sommelier carefully decanted Latour 1919 during the tasting in March 2006
Latour 1904 92p
Tasted in March 2006. German bottling. Color like pale tea. This wine stood out as surprisingly well-made, with ideal balance, pure, vivid, and luscious. A delightful experience. An old lady with quite a spark!
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Les Forts de Latour 2023 (barrel sample) 94p
Tasted in April 2024. The blend is 55.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40.2% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. 13.7% alcohol. It keeps the style of Grand Vin but has flowery notes, softer fruit, softer tannin, and is more tender on the palate.
Les Forts de Latour 2018 94-95p
I tasted it twice, the last time in April 2024. Consistent notes. It is probably the best effort ever here; it tasted powerful with a lot of fruit and tannin, adding great complexity, structure, and length. It was even better after bottling, and it fully shined in April 2024!
Les Forts de Latour 2017 (barrel sample) 92p
Tasted in April 2018. It was a well-made wine with substantial grip, fine depth and structure, and a meaty finish.
Les Forts de Latour 2016 (barrel sample) 93p
Tasted in April 2017. It appeared to be a very expressive wine with a lot of dark fruit, silky tannin, a splendid backbone, structure, length, and excellent balance. It was a warrior effort.
Les Forts de Latour 2015 92p
Tasted twice - last time in November 2021. It is an intense wine with a fine concentration of fruit and tannin, fine structure, and complexity. Long aftertaste. This was in April 2016. When retasted in November 2021, it was similar to the barrel impression.
Les Forts de Latour 2014 (barrel sample) 91p
Tasted in March 2015. Powerful and meaty with splendid acidity, strong structure, and a fine, long finish. It's very fine for the vintage.
Les Forts de Latour 2013 86p
Tasted twice last time in April 2019. Not consistent notes. Powerful, meaty, and chewy, with new oak up front, a strong backbone, and splendid depth and length. Good for the vintage. That was in April 2014. Tasted in April 2019, it showed the problems with this vintage: it was jammy and lacked freshness and ripeness.
Les Forts de Latour 2012 90p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2018. Not consistent notes. It wasn't impressive from the barrel, but it was much better from the bottle. It is beautiful, fruity, and pleasant to drink. Very good structure and depth.
Les Forts de Latour 2011 92p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2013. Consistent notes. It displayed fine intensity and concentration of dark fruit, fat tannin, tight structure, lovely balance, and a firm finish.
Les Forts de Latour 2010 (barrel sample) 90-92p
Tasted twice in April 2011. Consistent notes. This wine offered aromatic intensity, chocolaty flavors, ripe berries, fine concentration, depth, and finish. Silky tannin and long aftertaste. Fine quality, indeed.
Les Forts de Latour 2009 93p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2016. Consistent notes. It was immensely seductive, with plenty of dark cherries and blackcurrants swimming in high-quality chocolate. What a treat! Stunning balance and long, caressing aftertaste completed this beauty of a wine.
Les Forts de Latour 2008 91p
Tasted three times - last time in March 2015. Consistent notes. This wine displayed a delicate, spicy nose of blackcurrants, fine acidity, strong structure, and a firm aftertaste. Superb effort.
Les Forts de Latour 2007 89p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2011. Consistent notes. Here, we had a lighter version of 2008 with some green undertones, but this didn't count much because there was tasty fruit, a nice balance, and a pleasant aftertaste.
Les Forts de Latour 2006 91p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2014. Consistent notes. Two-year-old brother of 2008 and almost the same style. Pencil, leather, and cedar flavors, same strong backbone and delicate, smooth finish. Superb wine.
Les Forts de Latour 2005 92p
Tasted in April 2013. This wine displayed sweet black cherries, fine acidity, balance, and splendid complexity. It's harmonious with a fine finish.