Chateau Latour, Pauillac, 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, 2016 Tasting notes

Latour is 50% biodynamic for the “grand vin” (entirely organic), but from 2017 that is being extended to 100% and I salute them for that effort. Latour emphasized that the first half of the year (January to June) was the wettest for 20 years and the second half (July to October) was the driest for 16 years.

Pauillac de Latour (17 points)
[54.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38.9% Merlot, 6.5% Petit Verdot]

A deep color with a bit of a sparkle. A bit closed on the nose but with spice, liquorice and some fruit aromas. In the mouth there is a nice expression of the fruit, a good freshness and a decent structure and length.

Les Forts de Latour (18,5 points)
[64.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.3% Merlot and 0.4% Cabernet Franc]

This is a spectacular Les Forts de Latour. A bit of a deeper color than the Pauillac. A pleasant discreet nose with good (cassis) fruit. Incredibly smooth an beautiful in the mouth. Incredibly ripe and approachable. Way more approachable than in the last few vintages. Well done!

Chateau Latour (20- points)
[92.9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7.1% Merlot]

Almost the same color as the Les Forts. Beautiful pure expression of the fruit. This beautiful wine almost jumps out of the glass. Superb clean approach in the mouth with beautifully expressed fruit, albeit a bit jammy, followed by the typical power of Latour in a great vintage. A textbook balance and freshness and great structure to support this superb Latour. Incredibly fine and ripe tannins. More freshness and a better balance and more length than the 2015. A wine with a long future that will please generations to come.