Latour à Pomerol 2009

A beautiful wine from the Moueix stable of right bank offerings, the 2009 Latour a Pomerol displays a dense plum/ruby/purple color along with a bouquet of mocha, roasted nuts, wood smoke, truffles and sweet cherries. Full-bodied, round and generous with sweet tannin, considerable power and no hard edges, this is a surprisingly up-front, precocious effort that can be drunk now or cellared for two decades.

Tasted at the offices of JP Moueix. The Latour-a-Pomerol 2009 has a very intense bouquet, real "thrust" from the glass with dark cherries, graphite, dried rose petals and a touch of cassis. Very fine definition and sense of mineralite. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, very fine symmetry, dark berries, summer fruit, crushed stone with a touch of citrus peel towards the finish. Masculine, almost austere finish suggesting that this is a Pomerol to put away. Tasted September 2011.

Blueberry, with mineral and dried rose petal, lead to a full body, with chewy, yet polished tannins that go on for minutes. Solid and very pretty. Grows on the palate. Best in years. Very serious indeed.

Very deep crimson. Rather sumptuous, even ethereal nose. Now we're getting somewhere with this Moueix range...! Very luscious and complete with real density and substance - and not just sweet and alcoholic. A really good wine. Interest and depths with great but not excessive ripeness and lots of fine tannins. Date tasted 30th March 2010. Drink 2016-2032.

We do not have first hand allocations of this Chateau but hope to have small quantities later in the campaign. Medium-deep colour, red fruits on the nose. Quite plump on the palate with plums and raspberries. Rich and silky, fleshy with a fresh lift. Good balance, power with control.

A nice, old-school style, with roasted mesquite, tobacco leaf and espresso flavors up front, following through to bittersweet ganache and mulled dark currant notes on the still-slightly taut, but well-framed, finish. Should flesh out a bit more with cellaring. Best from 2014 through 2030.-J.M.

The nose is very bright quite red fruited with behind it some richer sweeter black fruits giving more weight. The tannins feel ripe all adding to the lushness of the black plum on the mid palate and filling out the finish. Drink 2018-2040.

A sumptuous follow up to the wonderful 2005, the 2009 from this Moueix-managed Pomerol estate is delicious. The Cabernet Franc seems higher than 5%, because there's an underlying leafy freshness here. The tannins are fine and elegant, the fruit is ripe without being soupy and the oak is stylishly integrated. 15+ years.

Dark, ripe fruit with smooth caressing tannins. Length and freshness. Assured quality and value from the Moueix stable. Won't disappoint. Drink 2017-2035.