2015 Chateau Latour Les Forts de Latour Pauillac 375ml

  • "Great Purity, Class, & Length, Very Latour!" ~96 Andreas Larsson
  • "All About Grace & Beauty" ~95 James Suckling
  • "Impressive" ~94+ Robert Parker
  • 95 Point Vintage, Vinous
  • 2nd Label From Chateau Latour
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About the Wine

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. 

Les Forts de Latour is the second wine from Chateau Latour. Latour is one of the four original Grand Crus from the 1855 Classification. 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 that, 2015 was an amazing year for the Left Bank. Vinous Media and Wine Spectator gave this year a 95pt review, where vinous called this the "strongest vintage in a number of years in 2015." and said that the "2015s are spectacularly rich, racy wines loaded with personality." And Wine Spectator said "Pessac is Superb"

Tasting Notes63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.9% Petit Verdot.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

Good depth with ripe but discreet dark fruit, sage, tobacco leaf, and wild dark berries. Very complete palate with plentiful silky tannin, flavor intense and lingering with great purity, class, and length, very Latour! ~96 Points, Andreas Larsson.

Aromas of blackcurrants, sweet tobacco, fresh herbs, licorice, and cigar box follow through to a full body with tannins that are totally integrated and ultra, ultra-fine, framing the wine and highlighting the subtle, pretty fruit. All about grace and beauty. Keeps getting better. Drink or hold.~95 Points, James Suckling. 

Composed of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.9% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Les Forts de Latour needs a fair bit of air to unlock a profound, powerhouse nose of blackcurrant cordial, boysenberries, plum preserves and dark chocolate, with suggestions of Chinese five spice, clove oil, violets and crushed rocks. The palate packs an absolute flavor wallop, bursting with rich, ripe black fruits and loads of spicy sparks, while framed by beautifully plush tannins, finishing long and minerally. Not at all heavy, on the contrary, the Les Forts is both expansive AND tantalizingly refreshing. In terms of evolution, it has barely budged since I last tasted it in 2017. While it's drinking very well right now, it easily has a good 20 years of cellaring ahead, maybe more. Impressive. ~94+ Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

There is a velvet touch to this smooth, rounded wine. With some dark tannins as well as blackberry fruits, it is rich with some concentration. At the same time, the acidity shoots through the wine to give a really fruity aftertaste. ~94 Points, Wine Enthusiast.

On the nose, you get a full array of floral aromatics and a gorgeous exuberance. The gourmet edge that is never far away from the surface in the 2015 vintage is very much in play, along with touches of truffle, cigar box, and an earthy openness even at six years old. A smoked caramel note comes in on the end, as does a hit of mouthwatering salinity. It's not as intense as Forts in vintages like 2010 or 2016 but it has an ease to it that is hugely appealing and can be drunk from now and for at least another 15 years. 0.5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend (the last vintage to contain even a slice of this grape, as it has now been pulled up). 40% of overall production. ~94 Points, Decanter. 

The true second wine of the estate is the 2015 Les Forts De Latour and it's slightly more Cabernet dominated with 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, and then less than one percent each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This ripe, sunny vintage delivered loads of terrific wines and 2015 reveals a vivid purple/opaque color as well as fabulous cassis and jammy currant fruits intermixed with lots of cedarwood, leafy herbs, earth, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and nicely structured, it has a wealth of fruit, building yet sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. ~94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck. 

The 2015 Les Forts de Latour is silky, perfumed, and wonderfully nuanced from the very first taste. Crushed red berry, cedar, tobacco, mint, and blood orange lend striking aromatic nuance. Ample and resonant in feel, yet with a mid-weight structure, 2015 is a total pleasure to taste today. All of the natural radiance of the warm year comes through in the wine's generous, inviting personality. ~94 Points, Vinous Media.

The nose is elegant, fine, straight, and “strict”. It reveals fine notes of blackberry and cassis combined with fine touches of violet/blueberry, a hint of Zan as well as a hint of oak and spices (discreet). The palate is fruity, gourmand, mineral, racy, fine, relatively fat and offers freshness, tension, and righteousness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of blackberry, cherry and a touch of raspberry associated with slight notes of red fruits acidulous candy as well as slight notes of Zan and discreet notes of chocolate. Tannins are fine, elegant, and supple. Good length. ~92 Points, VertdeVin. 

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