© 2003-2008 I.Litwar
Latour's fame started in 1718, when Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur inherited this property. Latour stayed under ownership of de Ségur family for about 250 years and enjoyed unparallelled glory time during these years. Family de Ségur managed to own properties like Lafite, Mouton Rothschild and Calon Ségur during that period. In 1855, Latour was classified as 1.Growth.
In 1963, descendants of de Ségur family sold 75% shares in Latour to two British companies, Harveys of Bristol and Pearson Group. In 1989, Allied Lyons, who already at that time had owned 25% of shares in Latour, bought out Harveys of Bristol and Pearson Group. Allied Lyons ownership lasted until July 1993, when Francois Pinault, owner of France's biggest department store chain, purchased it. Two years later, he employed a young and dynamic man, Frédéric Engerer, as a daily manager. Frédéric Engerer set immediately high standards by doing changes in winemaking team, improvements in the vineyard and in the vinification cellar. Latour is in the best hands now - no doubt about it! It has been fantastic and stable wine since 2000 vintage.
Latour is situated i Pauillac commune, just behind Pichon Comtesse and its vineyard borders Gironde river. The fact, that Latour is situated close to Gironde river, assures its unique micro-climate, which protects vineyard against both winter- and spring frost. In April 1991, when spring frost (gelée noir in French - buds on vines become black) devastated many vineyards further inside the country, Latour was lucky to only lose 30% of production in its vineyard's more important part, Grand Enclos. Grand Enclos counts for 47 ha of Latours total 78 ha big vineyard and is the supplier of grapes to Grand Vin.
Surface of the soil is deep layer of gravel, containing small and big stones, while subsoil is a mixture of clay, marl and some sand. Grape varieties used are Cabernet Sauvignon (75 %), Merlot (20 %), Cabernet Franc (4 %) and Petit Verdot (1 %). Vines are on average 40 years old and vinification is carried out in stainless steel vats. Latour matures 18 months in 100 % new barrels.
Most of the tasting notes below originates from impressive tasting of 30 vintages of Latour in March 2006 in Copenhagen. I have added tasting notes of Latour 2005, 2004 and 2001 from visit at Latour one month later. During my visit at Latour I've also tasted vintages 2003 and 2002, which performed exactly as at the tasting in Copenhagen one month before.
Famous stony surface of the soil in the vineyard of Latour
Frederic Engerer, manager of Latour
Latour 2007 (barrel sample) 92p.
Tasted in April 2008. This wine was silky in fruit and tannins with exquisite balance. On the elegant side, very seductive with soft and long finish. It really shows its feminine side!
Latour 2006 (barrel sample) 97+p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2008. Consistent notes. More concentrated, more tannic and richer version of 2004. Has a very long and eventful life ahead. Stunning quality.
Latour 2005 100p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2007. Consistent notes. Now in bottle. It had almost coal-black color, dense and with powerful nose of black cherries, blueberries and blackcurrants. Incredibly sophisticated and multidimensional on the palate with enormous load of super ripe berries and silky tannins, stunning balance and aromatic fruit of highest quality. Finished with an aftertaste, which lasted for about two minutes. It's already legendary and it's sure bet for 30-40 years of cellaring.
Latour 2004 96p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2007. Consistent notes. Now in bottle. Dense, deep red color. Elegant style, refined, rich and splendidly balanced. Wonderful quality. This wine should have time to mature in peace, so don't open it before 2012-2014.
Latour 2003 98p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2006. Consistent notes. Deep red. It had seductive nose of perfectly ripe blackcurrants, incredibly deep and intense. Iron strong structure with enormous depth and length and mega long aftertaste. Despite record hot August, grapes didn't seem to have suffered a heat stroke at all, for there wasn't the slightest indication of warm/jammy fruit in this wine. This was Latour, when it really blossoms. Exceptional quality, which requires 25-30 years in the cellar.
Latour 2002 94p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2006. Consistent notes. Intense aroma of blackcurrants, really fine lusciousness and load, splendid structure and depth. First sips were of the light character, but suddenly something happened. Wine became stronger and sappier, and with very long aftertaste. Brilliant wine for this vintage, and which can be enjoyed in the next 15-20 years.
Latour 2001 95p
Tasted in April 2006. 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 Latour of giant look, but a wine with softer shapes. Exquisite enjoyment in the next 20-25 years.
Latour 2000 99p
Tasted in March 2006. Almost black red. A breathless wine with extremely intense aroma of perfectly ripe blackcurrants and blueberries. Ultra concentrated berries with delightful lusciousness on the palate. Extravagantly deep, extravagantly strong structure and impressive width. Angels sing! Sure bet to cellar it in at least 30 years from now on.
Latour 1996 96p
Tasted in March 2006. Dark red. Arch 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.
Latour 1994 89p
Tasted in March 2006. The capricious weather in 1994 didn't allow grapes on Left Bank to reach full maturity. Nevertheless, this wine was a really nice one, despite its light texture, with tasty fruit, nice structure and length. It's at its peak now and will stay like that in the next 3-5 years.
Latour 1982 100p
Tasted in March 2006. Undoubtedly the best wine of the tasting. Incredible intensity of everything. Fantastic on the nose and palate. Breathless richness of nuances and length. Truly a masterpiece with a bang! Keeps easily for another 20-25 years horizontally.
Latour 1979 92p
Tasted in March 2006. Dark red. Had intense nose and palate of ripe blackcurrants with delicious sweetness, spicy fruit. Strong tannin, which however wasn't allowed to dominate. It was meaty wine with splendid structure and 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 in additional 5-7 years.
Latour 1976 86p
Tasted in March 2006. Medium red. Quite light and old on the palate with clear flavors of well-preserved marmalade. Dry tannin and dry aftertaste. Surely a bottle, which hadn't been stored properly.
Latour 1975 88p
Tasted in March 2006. Medium red. Ripe berries with a scent of over ripeness. Quite light. Was pleasant on the palate, but quite dry in the aftertaste. Lacked concentration, sweetness and had too dry tannins on the palate, to really be a gilt-edged experience. It won’t profit from additional cellaring.
Latour 1971 0p
Tasted in March 2006. Unfortunately, this wine was corked.
Latour 1970 94p
Tasted in March 2006. Expressed itself as compact, well-structured and powerful wine with splendid depth and lasting aftertaste. Undoubtedly a perfectly stored bottle with 36 years old Latour in stunning form. Will be great pleasure now and in the next 5-10 years.
Latour 1966 89p
Tasted in March 2006. There was a bit more of everything here than in Latour 1964, first of all more lusciousness in the fruit, bigger concentration and bigger length on the palate. It’s great pleasure to drink now.
Latour 1964 88p
Tasted in March 2006. Fine and intense nose of ripe blackcurrants and raspberries. It was packed with tannin, nice structure, tasty and quite entertaining. Ready to drink.
Latour 1961 99p
Tasted in March 2006. A wine, which at first sip had aroma and tasted of purely of Cabernet, and showing delicious blackcurrants, tobacco leaves, mint and leather. Densely built wine, rock solid and ultra concentrated wine with fat and strong tannin, exceptional structure and mega length. It hasn't reached full maturity yet. Will this wine do it after 10 or 20 years, for it seems eternal. We experienced a really perfect bottle at the tasting day!
Latour 1960 94p
Tasted in March 2006. Deep red. Ripe raspberries and raspberry drops on the nose. Very elegant and refined wine with beautiful balance and deliciously sweet aftertaste. It was charming stylish and graceful wine, which just tasted magnificently. It should be able to be like that for additional 4-5 years.
Latour 1958 90p
Tasted in March 2006. Medium red. Fine and aromatic blackcurrant nose with some sweetness. Well-balanced, reliable, but quite light wine, which finished quite well in the aftertaste. Ready to drink and by the way a really good Latour in this off vintage.
Latour 1956 85p
Tasted in March 2006. Medium red. Scent of vanilla pudding on the nose. It was quite tart and light on the palate with short aftertaste. Not the wine to be excited about.
Latour 1955 92p
Tasted in March 2006. Deep red. It was charming and pleasant wine on the nose with luscious berries (blackcurrants and raspberries). Fine balance, splendid structure and long lasting aftertaste. More elegance than power here, and probably not a perfectly stored bottle we tasted, concerning this vintage. Mature wine.
Latour 1953 91p
Tasted in March 2006. Medium red. Latour made in light version with luscious blackcurrants, well-crafted and with fine length on the palate. There was a fight in this wine about who was in driving seat between fruit and tannin, but either of the competitors hadn't been able to take command on its own. Wine was in splendid condition, but should be consumed in 1-2 years.
Latour 1951 87p
Tasted in March 2006. Close to Latour 1958 concerning style, but barely so well-balanced and aromatic. It’s lovely wine for quick consumption.
Latour 1950 89p
Tasted in March 2006. Reminded really 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. This was a wine which I believe went dead on one of its countless travels around the world. We disagreed however on this wine, just as we did with 1948.
Latour 1948 85p
Tasted in March 2006. Ugh! It was quite confused wine, where tannins ruled. Nice fruit and length, otherwise there wasn't that much to write about. Some of participants in the tasting found this wine to be young and fresh, but I really didn't!
Latour 1947 0p
Tasted in March 2006. This wine had passed away.
Latour 1946 87p
Tasted in March 2006. A mature wine, rather tart, but quite tasty anyway. Quite light wine with lovely concentration and nice aftertaste. Not at all a failed shot!
Latour 1945 86p
Tasted in March 2006. Champignon flavors, but otherwise nicely constructed wine. Nice fruit and length. Not really my cup of the. The man behind tasting told me, that this bottle had always stayed one place and it was in Sweden. Despite that, it didn't really impress.
Latour 1943 86p
Tasted in March 2006. It was very mature wine, somewhat tart and quite light, but with relatively good balance. Had peaked 10-15 years ago and was well on the way to dry out.
Latour 1928 0p
Tasted in March 2006. This wine had unfortunately passed away.
Latour 1919 88p
Tasted in March 2006. Red brown. Looked like well-preserved wine with fine, mature aromas on the nose, good balance and quite tasty. This wine was quite a success concerning the vintage.
Latour 1904 92p
Tasted in March 2006. German bottling. Color as pale the. Stood up as surprisingly well-made wine with fine balance, pure and vivid and quite luscious. A delightful experience. An old lady with quite a spark!