One of the finest second wines now being made, Les Forts de Latour comes from the same parcel every year. The 2011 is composed of 61.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38.5% Merlot. Forty-three percent of the Latour production was relegated to this cuvee. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, underbrush, licorice and incense. Medium to full-bodied, deep, fleshy and already appealing, this 2011 should gain complexity over the next 5-7 years, and last for 15-20.
By the way, Latour harvested relatively late for the Medoc, beginning the harvest on September 12 and finishing on September 26.
The 2011 Les Forts de Latour has a high-toned bouquet with black cherries, cedar, pencil lead and a touch of blood orange, like the 2011 Le Petit Mouton, gaining more composure with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grainy tannins, well judged acidity anda little compact on the finish, but it will appeal to those looking for "classic Bordeaux". Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. 2022 - 2035
Aromas of dried berries and fresh herbs such as lemongrass. Full body with firm, chewy tannins and a chocolate, pie-crust, berry and mineral character. A little salty and mineral. Needs at least five to six years.
First produced in 1966, this is not really a second wine as it is produced from separate parts of the vineyard which contain many old vines, as well as from some vats that are not quite up to the standards of the Grand Vin de Château Latour. Grapes from the vineyard's young vines do not go into Les Forts de Latour but are used for a generic Pauillac third label. Clearly the equivalent of a top classed growth. Under Frédéric Engerer's management, Les Forts de Latour has continued to improve in quality and recent vintages have been at "super-second growth" levels. This year it is 43% of Latour's production with a further 23% going into the generic Pauillac. 61.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc. In 2011 nearly 25% of the grapes in the enclos of Chateau Latour (especially Merlot) were relegated to Les Forts de Latour. This is a serious and impressive Pauillac with great balance between the black fruit and firm but ripe tannins. Complex with creme de cassis notes on the mid palate, silky texture and a long finish. Very impressive indeed.
The nose has a mix of flavours with the freshness of red cherry backed by richer blackcurrant and black cherry. The sweetness on the mid palate is underpinned by firm but ripe tannins with behind the structure lots of sweet ripe fruit filling out the mid palate and giving a supple fleshiness.
Forty three per cent of the production at Latour went into the second wine in 2011. The result is a good rather than thrilling Les Forts: forward, comparatively light, for a Pauillac with fresh acidity, medium weight tannins, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit and well integrated (50% new) oak. 8+ years.
Lovely fragrance, natural purity and vineyard depth, beautifully made claret - a jewel of a wine. Drink 2017-2030.
The Les Forts de Latour is a blend of 61.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It has a strict, clinical bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, crushed stone and a strong graphite seam. The palate is very precise on the entry, a little grainy in texture with fine minerality. It is unashamedly classic, nothing out of place, a second wine with its shirt tucked in and its tie done right up to the collar...and I like it for that. Tasted April 2012.
This is really excellent. Love the nose of minerals, violets and berries. Full body, with super fine tannins and a long, long finish. Slightly lean but seamless tannins.
