FORTS DE LATOUR
2012 du Pauillac
Great quality, in a sweet spot to drink. Has power and grace, and plenty of raspy slate-strewn tannins to sink into, muscular enough to showcase the powerful soils of Latour. Blueberry and blackcurrant fruits in abundance, violet-edged, succulent rather than intense. No need to rush to drink, not the same persistency as 2010 or 2016, but this is easy to recommend. 43% of overall production. Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Mar 2022)
In Bond
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
This is the first vintage to not be offered En Primeur, meaning this is the first commercial release for this wine. It is composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with expressive notes of crème de cassis, unsmoked cigars, charcuterie and tapenade on the nose with hints of kirsch and fertile loam plus a waft of menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate displays great concentration, sporting beautifully ripe, finely grained tannins, wonderful freshness and a long, savory finish. Just entering its drinking window and still possessing bags of fruit, it should continue to evolve and cellar for a further 15+ years. Drinking range: 2018 - 2033 Rating: 92 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Mar 2018)
The second wine, from vineyards outside of their famous walled l’enclos, the 2012 Les Forts de Latour (75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance mostly Merlot) is a beautiful, elegant wine with a dense purple color, notes of sweet black cherries and blackcurrants, subtle background minerality and no evidence of oak. This medium to full-bodied, beautifully constructed and layered Les Forts de Latour should drink nicely for 15 or more years. Drinking range: 2015 - 2030 Rating: 90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Apr 2015)
The best second wine from a first growth in 2012, reflecting the quality of Latour itself, this is not a big, buxom Pauillac by any means, but its charms are considerable, with lovely focus and freshness, refined tannins and hints of graphite, minerality and blackcurrant. Long and well balanced. Drink: 2020-35 Rating: 94 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2013)
Dark purple. Smoky nose. An edge of gunsmoke. Different and more demanding to taste than previous years. Just a little stringy. 2020 - 2035. Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2013)
Superb colour, cassis fruit and the classic graphite grip of top Pauillacs, fragrance, precision and great class. Drink: 2017 - 2030. Rating: 17.5 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2013)
Château Latour
1855 classification - Premier Grand Cru Classé The famous dovecote at Château Latour dates from the early 17th Century when vines were just starting to edge out general agriculture as the business of the Haut-Médoc. Later on in the 17th Century, Latour came into the ownership of the Ségur family who owned Lafite at the time too. The Ségur family, and their descendents, owned Latour right up until the 1960s. Sale of shares in Latour freed up finance for investment and modernisation. In 1993, Latour was purchased by the billionaire François Pinault from whom has flowed renwed investment. Château Latour sits at the southern end of Pauillac, facing Leoville Las Cases across the Ruisseau de Juillac. 47ha of vines sit around the château itself - the l'Enclos - and this provides grapes for the grand vin. From the l'Enclos, and other vines spread around Pauillac, comes the second wine - Les Forts de Latour and a "third" wine generically labelled "Pauillac". The vineyard is planted to 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with nearly 20% Merlot and a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The grand vin is aged all in new wood, Les Forts de Latour is a 50/50 mix of new and one year old casks. Latour's reputation is built as much on weaker vintages as the classic years - whilst everybody can make a great wine in years like 2005 and 2009, Latour has a consistency across the vintages that sees great wines made even when others are struggling.
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