Chateau Latour - Les Forts de Latour 2018

WEINWISSER: "65,5 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 34 % Merlot, 0,4 % Petit Verdot, 14,2 % vol., IPT 77, Anteil an der Produktion: 42 %. Sattes Purpurgranat mit violettem Rand. Intensives Bouquet nach duftigen Brombeeren, feine Röstaromen und Heidelbeergelee, dahinter Mokka und Korinthen. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit stützendem Tanningerüst und verlangenden Tanninen. Im aromatischen Finale ein dichtes schwarzbeeriges Bouquet mit Holunder, dunklen Kirschen und Lakritze unterlegt mit einem pfeffrigen Extrakt. Der «kleine Latour» ist zurück und wie."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. Zarte Nuancen von Zedernholz, schwarze Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Pflaumen, tabakige Würze, mineralisch unterlegt. Saftig, reife Herzkirschen, reife Tannine, tolle Süße im Abgang, Orangen unnd etwas Nougat im Nachhall, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 0.4% Petit Verdot, Les Forts de Latour 2018 has a deep garnet-purple color. It storms out of the glass with powerful scents of blackberry pie, boysenberry preserves, and crème de cassis, melding into a background of sandalwood, Indian spices, dusty soil, and licorice, with a hint of dried flowers. The medium to full-bodied palate is powerful and seductive, delivering firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness to frame the generous flavors of black fruit preserves, finishing long and opulent."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is made up of 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot, with 14.2% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. It was aged in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a fair bit of swirling to reveal notions of baked black cherries, cassis and blackberry pie with hints of pencil lead, clove oil, cardamom and allspice with a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impressive density with velvety tannins and a lively backbone supporting the generous black fruits, finishing long with all the earthy nuances coming through at the very end."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With depth of color, this wine is loaded with layers of sweet, ripe, lush, intense, pure black currants and just a hint of citrus and cocoa. You'll also find tobacco and fresh, red pit fruits. The wine offers intensity, length and purity with a dark chocolate tone that pairs perfectly with the wave of rich fruits. If a reclassification ever took place, this would be clearly be included. The wine was produced from blending 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and .04% Petit Verdot."

WINE SPECTATOR: " This is a gorgeous combination of cashmere and graphite, with racy edged cassis and blackberry fruit supported from underneath while light violet, anise and black tea details add range through the finish. A sleek and refined Pauillac that is hard to resist, but will easily handle cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2035."

DECANTER: "As with Pauillac de Latour, the dominant feel on the attack is the sinew and juice that runs through the wine, along with carefully spliced tight black fruits that are a little closed right now. This is concentrated, showing cassis and black pepper spice as it opens. They had yields of 24hl/ha, so pretty generous compared to some of the organic properties in this difficult year for mildew, but still low overall. 42% of production. 2.4% press wine. 74IPT"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Scented, neat and confident on the nose. Neat and focused. Not dramatic but everything is in balance. Long and classic. Just right!"