Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend

The 1959 Latour is a vintage that I have drunk many times. It contains a payload of irresistible and quite precocious red fruit on the nose with blood orange, cedar and a touch of thyme, beautifully defined. The palate has exquisite balance, poised yet powerful, with a multi-dimensional, profound finish that is one of the smoothest-textured you will find on any Latour vintage. Absolutely divine. Tasted at Arbor restaurant in Hong Kong. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)

The 1999 Latour has a dark garnet color with little aging on the rim. The nose is closed initially and demands coaxing, eventually revealing blackberry, cedar and light pencil-shaving aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, displaying some secondary notes of clove, white pepper and a distinct earthiness that comes through on the finish. [Post-script: this is one of the few vintages I identified correctly!] Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)

The 2005 Latour is a huge wine predestined for long-term aging. Noticeably deep in color, it has a showstopping bouquet with intense black fruit, graphite and touches of dried blood and tobacco as it considers moving into its secondary phase. But that's going to be slow coming...it's in no hurry. The palate is medium-bodied and unapologetically classic in style. I notice this bottle is a little grainy in texture, the salinity perhaps heightened as it enters adulthood. The finish has a tangible sense of tension, but it remains backward and swarthy. Immense. Tasted at Woo Cheong Tea House dinner organized by Paulo Pong. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)

The 2006 Latour shows some reduction on the nose, although it soon blows away to reveal pencil-shaving infused black fruit, wild hedgerow and light cassis aromas. The palate offers up a mixture of red and black fruit. This has a firm grip with an uncompromising backbone. Dense yet refined, it is refreshingly saline toward the finish, yet there are a few hard edges to be addressed. Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)

The 2009 Latour has an open and generous bouquet: a mixture of red and black fruit and touches of graphite and loam. This vintage displays a light marine/brine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a firm grip and superb balance. This is very focused, with impressive salinity on the finish that lingers nicely. This is an extraordinarily beautiful Latour. Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)

A baby still. Bottle recorked at chateau in 2014. Lighter bodied than expected. Cassis & Graphite.

Meaty deep red fruit. Dark cherry, some soft herbal notes, bloody iron stuff. Still quite primal. Alcohol is noticeable but still quite balanced- particularly with time in decanter. A powerful and intense behemoth. I think this’ll take a long time and may never be pretty but great substance.

Holding Well🍷

1986 vintage. Not at all what you'd expect from Latour. A decent Pauillac that lacks depth and charm.

Probably my favorite vintage for Latour. Stunning!