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Latour 2000

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon

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Label

Tasting Notes

The 2000 Latour is very deep in color. The nose is backward and demands coaxing from the glass, eventually revealing intense black fruit, cedar, graphite and very subtle Japanese nori aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with an arching structure that grips the mouth. The tannins are a little bolder than the 2001. This unfolds swirl by swirl, with hints of licorice emerging with time, and fanning out audaciously on the finish. Drink 2023-2070.

99
Neal Martin, vinous.com, September 2021

The 2000 Latour (a relatively abundant 14,000 cases compared to what they produced in 2009, 2008, or 2005) is "packed and stacked." The extremely rich, black/purple color to the rim is followed by a wine with some subtle smoke, loads of minerals, a hint of vanilla, and plenty of creme de cassis as well as roasted meat and a slight scorched earth character. Broad, savory, and rich, the wine seems to be about 5 years away from full maturity and should drink well for at least 40-50 more years. A great effort, probably eclipsed only by 2003 and 2009.

My original ratings appear to have been dead on the money for both of these efforts from Chateau Latour.

98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (189), June 2010
100
James Suckling, Wine Spectator (Mar 31, 03), March 2003

2000 saw a warm, dry July and August with a small amount of rain from mid-September onward. Composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2000 Latour has a deep garnet color and is showing a good amount of evolution, sporting mature notes of fried exotic spices, hoisin, unsmoked cigars and fruitcake with hints of incense, potpourri, cast iron pan and charcuterie. Medium-bodied, soft, plush and savory in the mouth, it has a long, mineral-tinged finish. 14,000 cases were made this year, representing 48% of production.

97
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, February 2019

Nose solid and firm, quite tight, very fine and elegant, hiding lots of power and complexity, fruit on palate solid, weighty tannins very youthful, great elegance and class, young thoroughbred racehorse. Will age fantastically. Drink 2012- 2020. Date tasted 7th July 09.

18.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, September 2009
99
Farr Vintners, April 2001

The fruit on the nose is deep rich with brooding black fruits. Power and richness on the palate with black fruits dominating the blackcurrant and sloe is underpinned by damson and black cherry. At the back the fruit is enriched by chocolate, liquorice and coffee beans all adding to the complexity the finish has depth yet still showing remarkable youth. 2015-40

97
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2015

Deep black colour. A dense, brooding nose. Incredibly thick and huge. This totally undeveloped wine remains stubbornly closed and is clearly destined for greatness but it may need another 20 years. A real powerhouse that is built for the long term. Deeply impressive. As backward as the 2003 is forward.

19
Stephen Browett, December 2006
Read more tasting notes...

The 2000 Latour is a wine that I feel is overlooked by many cognoscenti, goggle-eyed by the 2005 or 2009. However, this is perhaps the pinnacle of the millennial vintage. It has a stunning bouquet with extraordinarily pure blackberry, raspberry, cedar and violets. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate has a satin-like texture thanks to the filigree tannin, almost Burgundy-like in texture though Pinot Noir rarely achieves this density or arching structure. It is extremely complex, the black fruit giving way to more red fruit with aeration, gradually mellowing, even if it would benefit from another four or five years in bottle. This is a majestic Latour. Drink 2018-2060.

99
Neal Martin, vinous.com, July 2018

Only 48% of the crop made it into the prodigious 2000 Latour. A synthesis in style between the 1996, 1990, and 1982, it has the structure of the 1996, but the succulence, ripeness, and rich, concentrated fruit of both the 1990 and 1982. The 2000's satuiated ruby/purple colour is accompanied by sumptuous aromas of jammy black fruits intermixed with earth, vanilla, grilled nuts, and minerals. It is remarkably seamless for a young Latour, but as the wines sits in the glass, its acid and unevolved high tannin level begin to make an impact. This is an unctuously styled effort where tasters may not discern the tannin until the finish. A fascinating offering, it will flirt with perfection when fully mature. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.

98+
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

There are only 14,000 cases (only 48% of the crop made it into the grand vin) of the 2000, which flirts with perfection. Truly great stuff, it reveals perfect equilibrium, great finesse, yet colossal size, with a thickness and density that rival the brilliant 1996. This saturated black ruby/purple colored wine seems almost discreet on first inspection, but with aeration, notes of vanilla, exceptionally pure, mineral-infused creme de cassis, and earth emerge. Full-bodied and tannic, it should come close to representing perfection. Latour's 2000 is hard to compare with previous vintages. It obviously does not have the opulence of the 1990 and 1982, yet there is an extraordinary purity, delineation, seamlessness, and freshness to this wine that sets it apart from previous vintages. In any event, it is prodigious, with at least five decades of evolution ahead of it. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2050.

98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (146), April 2003

Only 48% of the crop made it into the prodigious 2000 Latour. The wine's saturated ruby/purple color is accompanied by sumptuous aromas of jammy black fruits intermixed with earth, vanilla, grilled nuts, and minerals. It is remarkably seamless for a young Latour, but as the wine sits in the glass, its acid and unevolved high tannin level begin to make an impact. This is an unctuously-styled effort where tasters may not discern the tannin until the finish. A fascinating offering, it will flirt with perfection when fully mature. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.

96/99
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (139), February 2002

The 2000 Latour is one of the vintage's most compelling efforts. Yields from the old vines from which most of this cuvee is produced were 37 hectoliters per hectare. Forty-eight percent of the crop was utilized in the grand vin. It is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

A prodigious effort, it appears to be the star of the Medoc first-growths. Despite its thick, viscous appeal, the total acid is 3.7 grams per liter, quite high considering that most great vintages of Latour possess 3.2-3.3. This wine possesses sweet tannin, amazing presence and concentration, extraordinary purity, and phenomenally ripe, pristine, unctuous, but not heavy notes of black fruits. It is a model of power, symmetry, and grace, with a finish that lasts for over 45 seconds. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2050.

96/100
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (134), April 2001

This has a very fine nose: wonderful lift and definition, blackberry, raspberry, graphite, a touch of espresso, smoke and burning embers. In the background, there is a slight hickory element. The palate is medium-bodied, fine but very structured tannins, blackberry, soy, tar, graphite and an ethereal sense of symmetry towards the vibrant, brilliantly defined finish. Aristocratic. Drink 2015-2050.

98
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, September 2010
100
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, January 2003
95/100
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, January 2003

Deep garnet in color, the 2000 Latour has aromas of kirsch, crème de cassis and dried mulberries with nuances of leather, incense, salami and fertile loam. The palate is just starting to mature into a wonderfully satiny texture, with layer upon layer of berry preserve, baking spice and earth notes resulting in a wine of incredible poise.

99
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, RobertParker.com, May 2012
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.