Château Latour Pauillac 2004/2011/2012/2014/2015

Château Latour is a prestigious red from the Pauillac appellation in Bordeaux, classified Premier Grand Cru Classé. It stands out for its purity and concentration, with one of the highest percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon in the estate's history (97.1%).

The Wine Advocate
RP 96

Reviewed by: William Kelley

A rich, expressive year for the estate, the 2015 Latour opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, damp earth, espresso roast, pencil shavings and a subtle hint of potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, supple and elegant, with a velvety attack that builds into a sweet, layered mid-palate; it's enveloping and complete, ending with a sapid finish. The tenser, more classic 2014 should prove longer-lived, while the generous 2015 is a Latour it would be no sin to drink young.

Published: 6 April 2023

The Wine Advocate
RP 97+

Reviewed by: William Kelley

The 2014 Latour is one of the finest wines of a vintage that favoured the northern Médoc. Mixing aromas of wild berries and cassis with notes of cigar wrapper, loamy soil, black truffles and elegant new oak, it's full-bodied, rich and highly concentrated. Its broad attack builds into a deep, firmly structured mid-palate framed by powdery, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity, ending with a long, mouth-watering finish.

This young wine of classic balance and still-youthful structure seems destined for extraordinary longevity. It recalls a modern version of a cooler vintage like 1996, though ripening today is more complete and selection even stricter than two decades ago.

Published: 15 March 2022

Château Latour is in the heart of the Médoc, in the Bordeaux region, with 92 hectares of vineyards, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon.

Latour is steeped in history, going back to 1378, when the land became the property of Gaucelme de Castillon, who built a garrison fort 300 metres from the estuary to guard against attacks during the Hundred Years' War. The tower, named La Tour, gave its name to the estate around the fortress, which stayed in English hands until the Battle of Castillon in 1453, when it was completely destroyed by the King of France's forces. Sadly, the original tower no longer exists, but in 1620 Simon Ledwidge built another, round tower, which became the estate's symbol.

Jeb Dunnuck: Finally, the Grand Vin is a heavenly wine offering a classic Latour bouquet of pure crème de cassis, graphite, pencil shavings, tobacco and a minerality like liquid stone. It shows a touch of the vintage's riper, more seductive style, but stays firm and compact on the palate, with full-bodied richness, fine but building tannins, impeccable balance and a magnificent finish. Not far from the 2009 in style, it will be approachable after just 4–6 years in bottle and will last 40 years.

James Suckling: Aromas of iron, oyster shell, rust and stones, with blueberries and blackberries. Full-bodied, but extremely polished and refined. It flows across the palate with fruity, salty flavours. Tight, focused and always elegant. Lovely length. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon gives this brilliance. Drink in 2022.