2005 Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux

The 2005 Latour is made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it gallops out of the glass with incredibly youthful, powerful creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves scents, followed by wafts of violets, licorice, eucalyptus, and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, super-concentrated, and energetic in the mouth, it has a rock-solid structure of firm, beautifully ripe tannins and so many layers, finishing on a long, lingering anise note. While it is beautifully open and expressive at the moment, it remains incredibly primary and therefore could be a disappointment for those seeking a more evolved, tertiary experience. I would give it another 5-7 years in bottle, at least, knowing this will likely cellar to 2070 and beyond.

The 2005 Latour was mind-blowingly profound in two recent tastings for this report. Deep and sensual to the core, the 2005 is utterly captivating. All the elements are so seamlessly put together. Graphite, crème de cassis, licorice, dark spice and lavender infuse the 2005 with so much energy. More than anything else, though, the 2005 is a Latour of texture and resonance. Even after several hours, the 2005 is fresh and full of energy. Wines like this are just life affirming. That's about all I can really say. Tasted two times.

The 2005 Château Latour is about as classic Latour as it gets and has the vintages (and Chateau’s) dense, powerful, massively concentrated style. Darker currants, scorched earth, leather, bloody meats, and green tobacco all define this incredible Pauillac and it’s full-bodied, has a massive mid-palate, both ample tannins and acidity, and a great finish. Based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, it clearly offers pleasure today but I’d nevertheless give bottles another 4-6 years if possible. It’s will probably see it’s 100th birthday in fine form. It’s unquestionably in the same league as the 1982, 1990, and 2009.

Very muscular and powerful with lots of tannins now, but it will come around. Full body and dense. Leave this alone for three or four years.

2005 was a very dry, warm and sunny vintage, causing vine stress in some areas of Bordeaux. Harvested from September 26 to October 6, the tannin/IPT levels were very high this year. The 2005 Latour is blended of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is the biggest surprise of this tasting—until now, the wine was relatively closed and broody, but today the wine is just starting to reveal its personality—and what a stunner! Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with provocative floral scents of roses and violets over a core of fresh blackcurrants, chocolate-covered cherries and black raspberries with hints of fertile loam, unsmoked cigars and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and packed with muscular fruit, it has an epically long, savory finish sparked by floral notes. 12,000 cases were made.

Today owned by Artemis Domaines, back in 1855 Latour was in the hands of the de Beaumont family, descendants of the historic de Ségur family. It had also already become one of the first estates in Bordeaux to incorporate as a business, forming the Société Civile de Château Latour in 1842. It was undisputedly among the top wines of the region back then, and it continues to be now, proof of the magical combination and location, soils, investment and skill. This remains muscular, just starting to soften and open, slowing layers and waves of cocoa bean, blackberry, cassis, liquorice root, crayon, cigar box and truffle. 100% new oak for ageing.

The 2005 Latour has an absolutely stunning bouquet that rivets you to the spot, with brilliant delineation and concentration and layers of black fruit, tar, graphite and light floral scents. Quintessential Latour firing on all cylinders. The palate is classic in style with a grainy texture, showstopping salinity and immense tension. You can almost picture the Gironde Estuary in your mind as you taste this. This is more backward than its peers, including the other First Growths, which I would expect. Nevertheless, it is a multifaceted, long-term Latour for those with patience. Tasted at the château.

87% Cabernet Sauvignon, remainder Merlot and Petit Verdot. Harvest took place between 26 September and 6 October.

Along with Margaux, another standout 2005. Still closed on the nose, this is a precise, concentrated Latour which has the structure to age effortlessly for a further two (or more) decades. Intense lead-pencil character on the nose with a plush, rich, intense palate of vibrant, dark, concentrated fruit. Extremely glossy tannins and beautifully integrated oak, finishing with a fine, lingering graphite note. A thoroughbred, drinking beautifully already but will age extremely well.

The Latour was magnificent but is now, unfortunately, in something of a dumb phase. The aromas showed a balanced mix of red and black fruit with appropriate accents from the maturation in new casks and the trademark earthy undercurrent accented with tar and leather notes. The extract has a substantial feel, and yet the tannins remain silky. One has the sense that, like all Latour, it will age exceedingly well, but it is far from showing its full potential. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, and picking began on 26 September.

Looks more evolved than the Pontet-Canet! Shaded dark ruby. Light but complex nose with many ingredients and a strong mineral element. Dry and even slightly dusty on the end. Not nearly as chewy as one might expect of the combination of Latour and 2005. Though there is a strong tannic trace on the end.