| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
First produced in 1966, this is not really a second wine as it is produced from separate parts of the vineyard near to Pichon Lalande which contain many old vines, as well as from some vats sourced from the enclos 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 the very good "Pauillac de Latour" and a further amount for the 4th wine, that is Chateau bottled but not released under the Chateau label. Les Forts de Latour is clearly the equivalent of a top classed growth and consistently matches the likes of the Pichons and Lynch Bages in blind tastings. It is not sold en primeur and the latest vintage to be released was the 2013 in March 2019. the 2018 blend is 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot. 42% of the total production.
The 2019 Forts de Latour is a tannic, backward wine, as it has always been. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, graphite, sage and mocha open with a bit of coaxing. Even so, the 2019 is incredibly tight at this stage. Despite its imminent release, I would not dream of touching a bottle any time soon. Rain just before harvest in this warm vintage helped keep things in check and resulted in fairly generous yields of 45 hectoliters per hectare. At the same time, the mid-palate is a bit compact, while the tannins are imposing. Drink 2029-2049.
The 2019 Les Forts de Latour appears to have tightened up a little since I last tasted it a few years ago. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of sweet cassis fruit mingled with hints of cedar, iris, orange zest and new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and nicely concentrated, with a ripe core of fruit underpinned by chalky structuring tannins. While it's approachable after a decant, it certainly merits additional patience. As readers will remember, this bottling mostly derives from dedicated parcels located further inland from Latour's famous "Enclos," next to Château Haut-Batailley. 2029 - 2050
The 2019 Les Forts de Latour has a lovely nose with copious black cherry and cassis scents, quite floral; the new oak beautifully integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fine-boned and exquisite in terms of balance, quite tensile towards the mineral-driven finish. One of the most elegant Pauillacs in this vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Restrained and more subdued than the Pauillac de Latour, but this has momentum and character, and is lip-smackingly moreish. Brambled blackberry fruits are contrained within sinewy and fairly serious tannins, with liqourice, tobacco, slate, rosemary and truffle. Not the concentration of a vintage like 2016 in this wine, but hard to argue with, and should be ready to drink within five or six years. 70% new oak, 39% of production.
The 2019 Les Forts de Latour opens in the glass with aromas of cassis, wild berries, sweet spices, cigar wrapper and a deft application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and velvety, it’s a deep, muscular wine with rich tannins, lively acids and a long, resonant finish. As readers will know, it mostly derives from dedicated parcels located further inland from Latour's famous "Enclos," next to Château Haut-Batailley. It's a fabulous effort that would clearly merit classified growth status in its own right were the 1855 classification ever to be revised. 2029 - 2055
