2018 Chateau Latour Les Forts de Latour Pauillac

One of the most iconic names in wine is Chateau Latour. This estate is in a class of its own, even among the other four Bordeaux First Growths. It has been the most consistent of them all for over 100 years, producing wines of incredible depth, power and longevity. It has also boldly decoupled from the rest of its competitors when it stopped selling wines en primeur.

This is one of the oldest properties in the Pauillac appellation, its history goes back to the 14th Century when a fortress was erected there during the Hundred Year's War. Château Latour takes its name from the tower that resides on the property. The original tower was built during the hundred years' war, to defend the Garrone estuary. It fell in battle and has since been rebuilt in the same location to house the estate's pigeons. 

Les Forts de Latour is the second wine from Chateau Latour. Latour is one of the four original Grand Cru Classe from the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux. The special history of this estate in Pauillac mirrors the development of the region as a whole.

In great vintages, the power and energy of Château Latour's wines enable them to continue to develop for several decades with ease. The bouquet and impressions on tasting gradually evolve, becoming increasingly complex, ultimately reaching a peak, after which the tannins soften, and then the wine slowly declines. Beyond the pleasure of drinking them, these wines can produce powerful feelings and unforgettable moments. Château Latour is also known for having the ability to produce fine wines even in difficult years.

2018 was an amazing year in Bordeaux's Left Bank, Vinous Media, Robert Parker, and Wine Spectator blessed this vintage with a 96-point review. Wine Spectator said the wines show "terrific drive and definition"

65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

A fruit bomb of a wine, the 2018 Les Forts De Latour is just about overflowing with sweet cassis and darker currant-like fruit, as well as complex notes of smoked tobacco, flowery incense, and spice. This plush, full-bodied, sexy effort has sweet tannins, a layered, opulent mouthfeel, and a great finish. ~95 Jeb Dunnuck

A solid and steelyred with lots of blackcurrant and blueberry character. Medium-to full-bodied and polished, fine tannins. Flavorful finish. ~95 James Suckling

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, violet tints, delicate watery edge. Delicate nuances of cedar, black berry fruit, a hint of plums, tobacco savouriness, mineral underlay. Juicy, ripe cherries, ripe tannins, great sweetness on the finish, oranges and some nougat in the aftertaste, sure ageing potential. ~95 Falstaff

The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is made up of 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot, with 14.2% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. It was aged in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a fair bit of swirling to reveal notions of baked black cherries, cassis and blackberry pie with hints of pencil lead, clove oil, cardamom and allspice with a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impressive density with velvety tannins and a lively backbone supporting the generous black fruits, finishing long with all the earthy nuances coming through at the very end. ~94+ Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is surprisingly approachable. It boasts serious concentration because of the warm dry summer and ensuring low yields, yet the intensity of the fruit pretty much covers the tannins, quite unusual for young Forts de Latour. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, incense, licorice and scorched earth add to the wine's distinctive sepia-toned personality. The 2018 turned out beautifully. ~94 Vinous Media

This is a gorgeous combination of cashmere and graphite, with racy edged cassis and blackberry fruit supported from underneath while light violet, anise and black tea details add range through the finish. A sleek and refined Pauillac that is hard to resist, but will easily handle cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2035. ~94 James Suckling

Richly perfumed on the nose, so aromatic and scented in a heady way - ripe strawberries and blackcurrants. A bit more subdued than I was expecting with a crushed stone texture to the tannins, less plush - more serious, straight, determined and all in one line. Ripe and cool black and blue fruits, less jammy than I was expecting but still with clear depth aided by high acidity and touch of spice and tension around the sides. Nicely textured - a complex glass of wine, definitely not 'easy drinking' right now - give it a few years and a long decant, but this builds and builds, with a great sense of complexity, terroir and minerality to it. ~93 Decanter