Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Les Forts de Latour seems just a little tired compared to the last time I tried it, offering a core of dried mulberries, fruitcake and Chinese five spice followed by scents of balsamic, woodsmoke and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, the palate has chewy, rugged tannins and evolved black fruits, finishing spicy. While still very delicious, I think this bottle may have been a bit oxidized, ergo the question mark after the score.
Drinking Window: 0000 - 0000
Reviewer Name: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
ExternalLink: www.robertparker.com
External Id: https://www.robertparker.com/articles/TkgBuWgPAedAxAESy
Deep red. Sweet red cherry, cassis, cedar and graphite on the showy nose. Sweet and chewy in the mouth, with red fruit liqueur and Oriental spice elements carrying through on the tactile, long finish. Much better than the Pauillac, which is the estate's third wine.
Drinking Window: 0000 - 0000
Reviewer Name: Stephen Tanzer
ExternalLink: www.vinous.com
External Id: Vinous Tasting Notes
Aromas of currants, blueberries and blackberries with a dark chocolate undertone. Perfumes and beautiful. Full body, with velvety tannins that are fine-tuned and tentative. It lasts for minutes. Gorgeous fruit and richness. Perhaps the greatest Les Fort ever? Try in 2018.
Drinking Window: 0000 - 0000
Reviewer Name: James Suckling
ExternalLink: www.jamessuckling.com
External Id: James Suckling Tasting Notes
Deep pale red coloured, the nose is very expressive with aromas of red and dark fruits, oak, espresso and liquorice.
Chateau Latour Pauillac. Château Latour’s Grand Vin is made exclusively from “vieilles vignes”, an average of 60 years-old, in the Enclos. Gravettes, Sarmentier, Pièce de Château... these are the names of some of the finest plots that express the character of the terroir and forge the wine’s identity every year.
The heart of the Enclos is the only terroir that, every
year, can produce the depth, elegance and concentration that we expect of the
Grand Vin. It is here that the Cabernet Sauvignon (accounting for more than 90%
of the blend) can achieve optimal expression in terms of colour, richness and
freshness. These wines need time - often a decade- before they begin to be
ready for drinking.
In great vintages, the power and energy of Château Latour's
wines enables them to continue to develop for several decades with ease. The
bouquet and impressions on tasting gradually evolve, becoming increasingly
complex, ultimately reaching a peak, after which the tannins soften and then
the wine slowly declines. Beyond the pleasure of drinking them, these wines can
produce powerful feelings and unforgettable moments.
Château Latour is also known for having the ability to produce fine wines even in difficult years. Château Latour is also known for having the ability to produce fine wines even in difficult years.
The heart of the Enclos is the only terroir that, every
year, can produce the depth, elegance and concentration that we expect of the
Grand Vin. It is here that the Cabernet Sauvignon (accounting for more than 90%
of the blend) can achieve optimal expression in terms of colour, richness and
freshness. These wines need time - often a decade- before they begin to be
ready for drinking.
In great vintages, the power and energy of Château Latour's
wines enables them to continue to develop for several decades with ease. The
bouquet and impressions on tasting gradually evolve, becoming increasingly
complex, ultimately reaching a peak, after which the tannins soften and then
the wine slowly declines. Beyond the pleasure of drinking them, these wines can
produce powerful feelings and unforgettable moments.
Château Latour is also known for having the ability to produce fine wines even in difficult years. Château Latour is also known for having the ability to produce fine wines even in difficult years.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the predominant grape, but it is invariably blended with other grapes. As with all red Bordeaux, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere may also be included in the blend (although wines will not necessarily include all six grapes). Prior to the 19th century, Malbec was predominant.
The style has been described as "stark". The predominant fruit flavour is usually blackcurrant, sometimes veering into plum. Pencil-shavings and cigar-box are also characteristic notes.
Wine from Pauillac may be labelled as Haut-Médoc (usually wine which the château considers inferior to its main offering and wishes to market under a different label). Similarly, second (or third) wines from the grandes châteaux may be labelled simply as Pauillac.