Latour 2014

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.

Deep, saturated ruby in the glass. The nose is archetypal Latour - graphite and cedar beneath cool, pristine black fruit. There is an easy power and focus to the nose that is savoury and youthful in equal measure. The palate brings the same effortless power, a deep, intense black fruit at the core. Layers of savoury spice, cedar and the lingering graphite tones add complexity. There is the slightest tone of undergrowth, too, showing the early signs of bottle age. Yet, the savoury fruit it to the fore and coated in plentiful, ripe tannins. Though chewy and persistent, they are starting to ease and allow for a surprisingly drinkable edge at just eight years old. The best, however, is still to come. The palate builds to its greatest intensity at the finish, which is very long. This is a perfect example of the northern Médoc's excellent potential in 2014 - it is certainly one of the wines of the vintage. Superb. Drink now with a long decant and food, or cellar for at least two more decades.

Deep garnet-black in color, the 2014 Château Latour needs a little swirling to unlock sophisticated scents of unsmoked cigars, Indian spices, smoked meats, and espresso over a core of cassis, baked plums, and boysenberry preserves, plus suggestions of dried mint and crushed rocks. The light to medium-bodied palate has a solid foundation of firm, grainy tannins and compelling tension framing the savory flavor layers, finishing with great length and impressive earthy fireworks. This vintage delivers a remarkably understated, quiet intensity, making it as deliciously drinkable as it is cerebral. Possessing approachable tannins and emerging tertiary notes while maintaining its core of black fruit preserves, it is delicious right now. It should continue to improve over the next decade and cellar for another 15+ years beyond that. The blend is 89.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.2% Merlot, 0.6% Cabernet Franc, and 0.3% Petit Verdot, while the alcohol weighs in at 12.89%. 2022-2047

Tasted blind. Big and bold and spicy with intensity. So much on the end! Massive density. Dry tannins but luscious fruit too. Really pure and so Pauillac!
Drink 2026-2050

The 2014 Latour has a beautifully defined bouquet with intertwined blackberry, briary, crushed stone and pencil box scents. This takes time to unfold in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with tobacco and graphite-infused black fruit framed by svelte tannins. This has a fine bead of acidity, cohesive with straight-down-the-line Pauillac tropes of graphite and tobacco towards the finish. Strict and aristocratic, the tobacco element has been accentuated with time. Superb. 2028 - 2055

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.

The depth, power and just sheer confidence of Latour shines through. This is an extremely classic 2014 - everything in focus, with clarity, grip and poise, sculpted blackcurrant and blackberry fruits, touches of raspberry leaf and crushed rocks. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, still strict and muscular in its tannins, with heft and width through the palate. As it opens graphite, violet and campfire smoke curls through the centre of the wine, along with slow and steady waves of saffron and sage spice. Easily one of the wines of the vintage, and one to take your time with, allowing the slow progression of flavours and textures to unroll at their own pace. It will benefit from another few years in bottle before really getting underway, and has decades ahead. Eric Boissenot consultant, Hélène Génin technical director. Harvest September 18 September to October 15.

Many have called this the best vineyard in the world and the dynamic Director of Chateau Latour, Frédéric Engerer, is determined to make the greatest wine possible. He has the confidence of owner, François Pinault, to do all that it takes to achieve this aim. Production levels have been slashed in recent vintages with only the best parcels of vines now producing grapes for the Grand Vin. The brave policy here is to no longer sell the wines en primeur but to wait until they are mature before they are released. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in 2014. The Grand Vin makes up 33.9% of the total production, with 40.1% in Forts de Latour and 26% Pauillac de Latour. Deep purple colour. Huge, intense, pure black fruit nose with lots of blackcurrant and layered vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. The palate is full bodied, firm, structure, opulent and powerful. There is plenty of glycerol and weight behind the dense cassis fruit core. The tannins are mouthfilling but ripe and rounded. The mid-palate is complex and powerful with lots of spice and a little minerality giving a cool edge to the ripe black fruit. Precision, balance, and power combined.

Deeper, richer, more concentrated, and stately than the Les Forts De Latour, the 2014 Château Latour is the wine of the vintage from the Médoc. Possessing a flawless, full-bodied, sexy and surprisingly open style on the palate, it’s relatively closed aromatically and only reluctantly gives up notes of cassis, chocolate, and lead pencil shavings. With incredible tannin quality, a layered, concentrated mid-palate, perfect balance and a great finish, it’s a classic Latour, as well as one of the few 2014s that demands cellaring. Hide bottles for 5-7 years and I suspect it will continue drinking nicely over the following three decades. 2023 - 2053

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.

Black cherry, sloe cassis the nose has a mix of black fruit depth of flavour. The palate seems quite light at first bilberry freshness fragrance but there is a brooding richness in the middle depth sweetness and power. Although rich on the back palate the finish is lighter fresher and fragrant. 2027-40

Will this prove to be a great Latour in years to come? I certainly think so. This is effortlessly concentrated, yet has less than 13% alcohol. Deeply coloured, aromatic, stylish and poised, it's all graphite, violets, dark berries, red fruit and tapering palate length. Beautifully balanced.