2014 Chateau Latour Pauillac

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  • Iconic 1st Growth Château Latour
  • 3x 97 Point Latour
  • "Utterly Classical 2014 Latour Itself" ~97 Wine Advocate
  • "It's a Super-Classic Pauillac" ~96 Vinous
  • Perfect Time to Drink is Today!
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About the Wine

"The 2014 Latour is one of the very finest wines of a vintage that favored the northern Médoc." ~97 Points, Robert Parker. 

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 GrowthsIt 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.

Tasting Notes89.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.2% Merlot, 0.6% Cabernet Franc, and 0.3% Petit Verdot. 
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

The 2014 Latour is one of the very finest wines of a vintage that favored the northern Médoc. Mingling aromas of wild berries and cassis with hints of cigar wrapper, loamy soil, black truffles, and classy new oak, it’s full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, its broad attack segueing into a deep, tightly wound mid-palate that’s framed by powdery, chalky tannins and bright acids, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. This classically balanced, youthfully structured young wine looks set to enjoy prodigious longevity. It’s reminiscent of a modern-day version of a cooler vintage such as 1996, though of course these days maturity is more complete and selection even more rigorous than was the case two decades ago...the deep, introverted, utterly classical 2014 Latour itself, admirers of this estate will find three excellent wines that are cut from very different cloth, and all three are more than worthy of attention. ~97 Points, Wine Advocate.

This has aromas of black fruit, olives, wet earth, dried lavender, cloves, and bark. Bitter chocolate and walnuts, too. It’s medium-to-full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Structured, with great freshness and length. Cedar notes on the lighter mid-palate. Still a little tight and chewy. Try from 2024. ~97 Points, James Suckling. 

The tannins in this fine vintage of Latour are still enormous, dominating the black currant fruit. It has a spice, tannins, impressive fruit, and a pure, cool character. To be released in the mid-2020s, the wine is likely to age for many years. Enjoy from 2027. ~97 Points, Wine Enthusiast.

The 2014 Latour captures the personality of the year in its linear, lithe construction. It's a decidedly understated Latour that is more about finesse than brawn. Bright red cherry/plum fruit, spice, mint, and sweet tobacco open over time, but at this level, wines are more about a feel, an expression of place and a vintage. The 2014 Latour embodies all the best this cool, late-ripening growing season had to offer. I loved the 2014 when it was first shown, about five years ago, and I love it today. It is a super-classic Pauillac. ~96 Points, Vinous Media.

This shows terrific cut and drive from the start, with mouthwatering acidity and a chiseled graphite note leading the way, backed by a core of pure cassis and blackberry preserves. Licorice snap and sweet tobacco details flitter through the finish, where the graphite edge reemerges and sails on and on. Best from 2022 through 2040. 7,632 cases made. ~97 Points, Wine Spectator.

The 2014 Château Latour is still a baby and relatively closed and backward, offering darker, meaty black fruits, tobacco, truffly earth, and graphite on the nose. It's much more dense and structured than I would have imagined from tasting on release and offers full-bodied richness, a beautiful mid-palate, fabulous overall balance, and no shortage of tannins on the finish. This vintage was terrific for the Médoc, particularly the northern Médoc, and this beauty warrants another 7-8 years of bottle age, after which I suspect it will have well over 3 decades of overall longevity. The blend is 89.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.2% Merlot, and the rest of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that hit 12.8% alcohol. ~96+ Jeb Dunnuck.

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