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."