1996 Pauillac, Château Latour
About Producer
In the same lineage of connected family ownership for 300 years since the mid 17th century, Latour owes its glory to the Marquis de Ségur and his heirs. Given a new lease of life in 1963 by British investors and then acquired by François Pinault in 1993, the estate has not rested on its laurels. Thanks to the rigorous management of Frédéric Engerer who implemented massive renovations in the cellar and even more drastic selection, the Grand Vin is once again at new heights. Latour has further stepped up its game by converting its entire vineyards into organic farming in 2015, and in parallel biodynamic preparations are being applied to most of the Enclos. Les Forts de Latour is an outstanding second wine which ranks well above a whole host of crus classés.
Varietals
Blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 5% cabernet franc.
About Appellation
Largest town in the Médoc and slighly more elevated than its surrounding area, Pauillac has always played an important role in the wine trade, notably when the city of Bordeaux lost its privilege and monopoly of wine exports to England in the 18th century. The vineyards cover 1,213ha and sit on well-drained sand and gravelly soils, with the best sites being located on rolling mounds, called 'croupes', that reach their highest point at 30m above sea level. Cabernet sauvignon is the predominant grape variety, albeit always blended with merlot, and to a lesser extent, with cabernet franc and petit verdot. Pauillac is home to 18 grands crus classés in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, including Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton-Rothschild (since 1973) as first growths.
Tasting Notes
Alluring nose of dark fruits, game, cedar, graphite, tobacco, fresh leather, earth and violets, dense mouthfeel with cashmere-like texture, ample volume and remarkable depth, multilayered flavours of raspberry, blackberry, currant, blueberry preserve, plum, black olive and balsamic notes liberally laced with savoury mineral undertones, bright acidity and melted tannins leading onto a long, saline finish. This 1996 is from a batch that was kept in the cellars of Latour until 2008. Having somewhat toned down the muscularity and tautness of its youthful years, it’s a phenomenal wine brimming with spirited energy and spellbinding complexity. It has power and weight but also exudes graceful elegance, and everything is held in faultless balance. At 28 years old, it’s stunningly youthful thanks to a refreshing bead of acidity that pleasantly cruises along the palate to linger long throughout the aftertaste. Still full of life, it’s indeed a superb Latour that heralds the sensational vintages made from the 2000s onward. (08/2024)