2015 Chateau Latour Premier Grand Cru Classe 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.

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. 

At the heart of the 192-acre vineyard are 116 acres known as l'Enclos, the source of Latour's Grand Vin and considered by many to be the finest terroir in all of Bordeaux.

Château Latour only uses old vines for the ‘Grand Vin’ or top wine. Additionally, the Château restricted the source of the grapes to the original footprint of the estate documented in 1759. All the fruit grown outside of the l'Enclos is used for the other two wines ‘Les Fort de Latour’ and ‘Pauillac de Château Latour’. 

In the vineyard, however, many traditional practices have continued or recently been reintroduced. Since 2007, for example, horses have been used to plow the vineyards, as their cultivation of the soil was found to be softer and more precise than tractors. Irrigation is banned by French law, and only organic fertilizers, combined with composted vine cuttings, plant matter, and manure are used to feed the soil. Biodynamic farming practices have also been recently trialed to great success. But sophisticated monitoring techniques like infrared analysis of canopies to show ripening levels or water stress are employed to insure that vineyard care and harvest timing are as precise as possible.

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.

97.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.6% Merlot and 0.3% Petit Verdot.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

~99 The Wine Independant

Blended of 97.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.6% Merlot and 0.3% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Latour is exquisitely perfumed, displaying fragrant notes of crushed black cherries, raspberry preserves, cassis and black plums with nuances of roses, dark chocolate, garrigue, menthol and a waft of sandalwood. The medium-bodied palate beautifully struts its taut, toned, muscular fruit with a frame of very firm, smooth, rounded tannins and compelling freshness, finishing with alluring earth and mineral layers. At once intellectual and sexy, this truly evocative vintage brings to mind the Melanie Griffith line from “Working Girl," possessing a sultry “head for business and a bod for sin." ~98 Robert Parker

Seriously structured and yet also so smooth, this wine has great concentration and powerful tannins. There is wonderful juiciness here as well as dense, dusty tannins that are never hard, always velvet. It is going to be a great wine when it is released in maybe 10 years time. The wine comes only from vineyards that are biodynamic. ~98 Wine Enthusiast

This packs some serious warm dark currant, fig and blackberry compote flavors together at the core, with charcoal, singed bay leaf, tobacco and roasted alder notes forming the foundation. Grippy for sure, but there's already alluring perfume and violet elements weaving around here. This has put on some serious weight and dark fruit since the barrel tasting, but remains all tensile strength. It will be fun to watch this age. Best from 2025 through 2045. ~97 Wine Spectator

~97 Tim Atkin, Master of Wine

The nose is elegant, mineral and offers delicacy, purity, depth, grain and a fine airiness in the approach. There are notes of wild blackcurrant, star anise and, more slightly, ripe black berry fruit, combined with hints of pulpy cherry, graphite, racy minerality and discreet, almost toasted almond notes. The palate is nicely fruity, racy and offers a very nice minerality, purity, acidity, energy, tension, a very nice delicacy and a nice mineral/crystalline side. An enveloping and delicate side. On the palate this wine expresses juicy/fresh blackcurrant, juicy/fresh boysenberry and more slightly wild berry notes combined with hints of blond tobacco/cigar, theirs as well as fine almost tonka bean/chocolate, a subtle saline character, a discrete liquorice note and an imperceptible hint of vanilla bean. The tannins are sapid, supple, elegant and offer a subtle powdery quality. Nice work on the positive bitterness (which gives the wine depth and length). A discreet almost tightness on the finish. ~96-97 VertdeVin

Dark ruby ​​garnet, violet reflections, delicate rim lightening. Fresh heart cherry fruit, delicately reminiscent of orange zest and some nougat, subtle floral aspects, some liquorice, underlaid with pleasant precious wood spice. Juicy, delicate red berry nuances, well-integrated tannins, lively structure, already well developed, salty notes on the finish, delicate nougat, good length. A finesse-rich, accessible food accompaniment that tends to be drinkable earlier. ~95 Falstaff 

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