2016 Chateau Latour Les Forts de Latour Pauillac

The winner of the best second wine in the vintage goes to Château Latour. Their 2016 Les Forts de Latour is a match for just about anything out there. It shares its bigger siblings' stature and class.~ Jeb Dunnuck.

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.

On top of all, 2016 was an outstanding year for the Left Bank. Vinous Media blessed the vintage with 98 points, and called it a vintage with "absolutely remarkable wines," telling us that "the best 2016s are absolutely harmonious, with the tannins barely perceptible at all. They have tremendous energy and bright, acid-driven profiles." and concluded its review by confirming that "Pauillacs are magnificent."

71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot. 
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Lots of blueberries, ripe blackberries, violets, peppercorns, olives and cloves on the nose. It’s medium-to-full-bodied with firm, fleshy tannins. Beautiful blue fruit and flowers. Layered and long. Drink after 2023. ~96 Points, James Suckling. 

The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is superb, unwinding in the glass with notions of blackcurrants, wild berries, sweet loamy soil, cigar wrapper and English walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s concentrated and tightly wound, with superb depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins. This is an impeccably balanced, utterly classical Forts de Latour worth a special effort to seek out. ~95 Point, Robert Parker. 

The winner of the best second wine in the vintage goes to Château Latour. Their 2016 Les Forts de Latour is a match for just about anything out there. It shares its bigger siblings' stature and class, with a sensational perfume of cedarwood, black currants, graphite, and lead pencil. Seamless, ultra-pure, and medium to full-bodied, it too needs a good 5-7 years of bottle age and will keep for 2-3 decades. ~95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck.

This is a great wine, with superb tannins and rich fruit flavors that are in balance. Made from 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, the palate is dominated by black-currant flavor and a pleasant structure from the very fine tannins. ~95 Points, Wine Enthusiast. 

The 2016 Les Forts de Latour offers a pure, seductive bouquet of gorgeous, graphite-tinged black fruit, focused and full of tension. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and good balance and grip. This is a classic, tobacco- and graphite-driven Pauillac with a very persistent finish. There is something regal about this Les Forts de Latour, one of the finest vintages in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. ~95 Points, Vinous Media. 

Violet scented dark black cherries and figs on the nose, quite powerful. Tannins are generous but they're juicy and plump, soft almost chalky, they have a really great impact, filling the mouth together with the fruit. Everything has melded together, super balanced and all very harmonious - still clearly powerful with precision and sculpting of the fruit and a long finish with the flavours going on and on. Good acidity gives freshness and a real rush of strawberry and cherry juice on the first sip lifts and sustains the palate the whole way. Such a charming wine with great impact and presence. ~95 Points, Decanter.

A bit fleshier and more caressing than a typical Pauillac, this has flavors of warm fig, currant, and blackberry preserve inlaid with charcoal and smoldering tobacco notes. There's grip for sure and a twinge of warm cast iron on the finish, but the fruit detail keeps the upper hand throughout, showcasing the purity of the finish. Very, very solid. ~94 Points, Wine Spectator.