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  • Country ranking ?

    581
  • Producer ranking ?

    27
  • Decanting time

    4h
  • When to drink

    now to 2040
  • Food Pairing

    Small crushed potatoes & oil of white truffles and fresh truffles

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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The Story

The chateau makes three different wines. The so-called grand vin, that is Château Latour itself, a second wine called Les Forts de Latour and a third wine simply called Pauillac. The grand vin comes from the original part of the vineyards, called the Enclos. This is the most prestigious part of the vineyard where the vines have a fine view of the Gironde estuary. The tradition in Bordeaux says that vines that overlook the water make the best w...

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Wine Information

A mild, wet winter resulted in a fairly early budbreak at Latour, on 23 March for the Merlot and 2 April for the Cabernet Sauvignon. After three weeks of cool weather in early May, a warm period from the 23rd caused an "explosion" in growth. Flowering began on 28 May. Some flower abortion was noted in the older Merlot vines in the Enclos. June and July were hot and humid. Thunderstorms continued in August, but Latour was spared, receiving only...

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Vintage 1996

The 1996s stand as a “classic” Bordeaux year, although – as Jancis Robinson MW has written – not in the “skinny” sense; although Farr Vintners’ director, Tom Hudson, told the drinks business that it was perhaps a “very good” rather than a “truly great” year as it wasn’t uniformly excellent across the region.

By way of a recap, 1996 was a particularly sterling vintage for Médoc wines. The Berry Bros & Rudd website extolls: “This is one of th...

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Average Bottle Price

2022 2020 2018 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2005
785€ +9.8% 715€ +8.3% 660€ +5.1% 628€ +2.6% 612€ -7.1% 659€ -17.6% 800€ +9.3% 732€ -16.4% 876€ -1.6% 890€ +223.6% 275€

This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.

Tasting note

color

Deep, Ruby red and Healthy

ending

Medium, Gentle and Extensive

flavors

Cranberry and Blackcurrant

nose

Youthful, Pure, Opulent and Generous

taste

Average in Acidity, Warming, Balanced, Complex, Good texture, Youthful, Full-bodied, Firm, Focused and Vigor

Verdict

Transparent and Well-rounded

Written Notes

The 1996 Latour had a much deeper nose than either of the Haut Brions, brooding but also a bit horsey at first. There were pencil and black fruits behind that and a touch of toll house. The palate was big yet refined, with laser-like acidity yet still full of finesse. There were nice chalky flavors on its finish, along with animal and tobacco flavors. Someone with their Palm Parker out hailed it as ‘near-perfect’ lol. It got szechuany in the nose, losing its animal and green edges to become just what Goldilocks ordered (96+).
  • 96p

Latour 1996 was similar to Pichon Comtesse 1996 (both appeared on the same flight) but tasted more refined. Great style and sophisticated touch here as well. 95p.

  • 95p

A legendary vintage, though still incredibly young. Powerful, and built to age, this will be a treasure in any collector's cellar.

  • 94p
Served blind. Ruby, garnet rim. Tobacco, cedar, cassis, some figs, lightly floral, anise and leather nose, detailed and elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity if leaner, detailed, elegant, cassis and anise, detailed, elegant, lively, rounded, lovely details and lovely balance, beautiful wine, long and graceful. 95
  • 95p
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Information

Origin

Pauillac, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Good

Investment potential

Very Good

Fake factory

Be Cautious

Glass time

1h

Drinking temperature

18
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