Château Latour
Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour Red Bordeaux Blend
Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Pretty impressive for a third wine, "Pauillac" is a relatively new wine for Bordeaux from Chateau Latour. From what I read 1990 may have been the first vintage.
I was not surprised of its character based on being a 2009, but based off of the 2006 and 2008 of this same wine I had low expectations. I have tasted this twice in the past and it was pretty good, but young and tight. This is young and while well structured, it's open for business and plenty enjoyable. The nose is really fragrant and persistent, within 2 feet of the glass you can smell it's charms. Red currants, black cherry, cassis, some violets floral essence that peaks as pure Cabernet. Secondary notes of toast and coffee act like a shadow to the fruit. Texturally this is great, density of flavor without weight, with firm and dusty tannin. A long finish on the palate adds good acidity and some minerality.
Will this get better? If you like your wines with some youthful exuberance this is right where you want it. But if you want to see it mature this should easily go another 10-12.
This then likely makes 2010 worth a look too.
Which brings us to price and value. It can be an odd wine for the normal price as it's not usually a good value, mostly because you can get first wines from other classified Chateau for the same or in some cases materially less.
I got this for a decent price at a big retailer sale event. Would I pay 90 as its priced now? No, absolutely not but I would take it for $60 or better.
But again we are talking cache and Latour, to me the greatest of the 1st Growth Bordeaux wines.
Pretty impressive for a third wine, "Pauillac" is a relatively new wine for Bordeaux from Chateau Latour. From what I read 1990 may have been the first vintage.
I was not surprised of its character based on being a 2009, but based off of the 2006 and 2008 of this same wine I had low expectations. I have tasted this twice in the past and it was pretty good, but young and tight. This is young and while well structured, it's open for business and plenty enjoyable. The nose is really fragrant and persistent, within 2 feet of the glass you can smell it's charms. Red currants, black cherry, cassis, some violets floral essence that peaks as pure Cabernet. Secondary notes of toast and coffee act like a shadow to the fruit. Texturally this is great, density of flavor without weight, with firm and dusty tannin. A long finish on the palate adds good acidity and some minerality.
Will this get better? If you like your wines with some youthful exuberance this is right where you want it. But if you want to see it mature this should easily go another 10-12.
This then likely makes 2010 worth a look too.
Which brings us to price and value. It can be an odd wine for the normal price as it's not usually a good value, mostly because you can get first wines from other classified Chateau for the same or in some cases materially less.
I got this for a decent price at a big retailer sale event. Would I pay 90 as its priced now? No, absolutely not but I would take it for $60 or better.
But again we are talking cache and Latour, to me the greatest of the 1st Growth Bordeaux wines.
Good depth for a 3rd wine, much better than the 07 I had tried before.
Good depth for a 3rd wine, much better than the 07 I had tried before.
1 person found it helpfulMar 16th, 2014Super approachable. Excellent value
Super approachable. Excellent value
Oct 26th, 2015
Wanted this to be so much more. It was still a delightful red currant and blossom treat that I could drink by the case. But lacking a return-to -the-glass complexity that engages the head as well as the palate.
Wanted this to be so much more. It was still a delightful red currant and blossom treat that I could drink by the case. But lacking a return-to -the-glass complexity that engages the head as well as the palate.
Aug 12th, 2014
Nice rocky minerality. Nice acidity. Slight copper on the hue and rust all around. Fairly astringent tannins but the acidity balances nicely. Latour's third wine. Green vine. Wet slate and steel. Just not sure this is earns the $115 price point. I love Bordeaux, but Dir that price I want more fruit - this is all vine and gravel. For same price I'd go with Realm's Bard!
Nice rocky minerality. Nice acidity. Slight copper on the hue and rust all around. Fairly astringent tannins but the acidity balances nicely. Latour's third wine. Green vine. Wet slate and steel. Just not sure this is earns the $115 price point. I love Bordeaux, but Dir that price I want more fruit - this is all vine and gravel. For same price I'd go with Realm's Bard!
Sep 12th, 2017
Chateau Latour's third wine. Cab-Merlot blend. Fresh and easily approachable with herbal notes, distinct acidity, medium weight and excellent overall balance without being too expressive. Decant for at least an hour before drinking. 94+
Chateau Latour's third wine. Cab-Merlot blend. Fresh and easily approachable with herbal notes, distinct acidity, medium weight and excellent overall balance without being too expressive. Decant for at least an hour before drinking. 94+
Dec 14th, 2015