2005 Latour
FRANCE / BORDEAUX / PAUILLAC
abv 13.0%
- 98 WA
- 99 WS
- 98 IWC
- 93 JR
- 100 JS
- Variety
Red Bordeaux Blend
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International Wine Cellar | Rating: 98
($1; 500-$2,000) Deep ruby-red. Reticent, brooding aromas of cassis, black plum, graphite and flowers. Then utterly explosive in the mouth, with wonderful sappy complexity of flavor and a thickness of texture that builds and builds toward the back; almost no sign of the new oak here. Offers a near-magical combination of power and refinement, but this extremely primary wine is still an infant. Finishes with extraordinary persistence that leaves the palate vibrating. One of the greatest young Bordeaux I've tasted in recent years, and more complete and classic than the outrageously lush 2003. For his part, Engerer feels that this wine combines the best traits of the 2003 and 2000 Latours. I made the mistake of retasting the 2007 after trying this, and the tannins of the younger wine came off as dry by comparison.Author: Stephen TanzerIssue: May/June 2008JamesSuckling.com | Rating: 100
A very complex nose of lavender, currants, spices, and hot stones. Full and dense on the palate, with a very tight structure. The tannins have a perfect polish to their density, and the finish is very intense, with wonderful fruit and truffle character. This turns almost decadent, with tremendous energy and a constantly changing profile. This is a very challenging wine to get to know, please leave this for at least ten years.Author: James SucklingWine Spectator | Rating: 99
Dark ruby black in color. Brilliant, intense aromas of mineral, blackberry and currant, with hints of Indian spices and cigar box, lead to a full-bodied palate, with ultrafine tannins and a beautiful balance of blackberry, raspberry and mineral. There's subtlety, yet also great depth. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is a Latour with fabulous tone and vigor. 12,500 cases made.Author: James SucklingJancis Robinson | Rating: 18
Tasted blindLots of minerals - the most obviously Bordeaux so far. Very subtle indeed - many layered. Exciting. Dry finish.Author: Jancis RobinsonVinous | Rating: 96
The 2005 Latour is nowhere near being ready to drink. For example, both the 2001 and 2002 were much more expressive when they were re-released a few years ago. The 2005, on the other hand is quite muted, especially in its aromatics. There is plenty of depth, power and overall persistence, but readers have to be prepared to cellar the 2005 for at least another few years. Its longevity, on the other hand, should not be an issue.Author: Antonio GalloniWine Advocate | Rating: 98
The Chateau Latour 2005 has an outgoing and ebullient bouquet with blackberries, wild strawberry, minerals and wilted rose petals. It has great intensity and authority, a bouquet that is polished but not over-buffed. The palate is full-bodied with a silky smooth entry. The acidity is beautifully judged, layers of small red cherries, raspberry and cedar, with graphite revealed towards the long and persistent finish with startling architecture. Outstanding.Author: Neal Martin
Self | Rating: 100
Author: dave1161Self | Rating: 99
Author: gd10102Self | Rating: 99
Drink Dates: (17-57)Author: winefolio
Chateau Latour is among the First Growth properties classified in the Bordeaux 1855 Classification. The estate is situated in the southern portion of Pauillac, bordering St. Julien and the Gironde estuary. Latour is considered one of the longest-lasting First Growths, reflecting its high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. The blend is typically 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The fruit is grown in vineyards with notably high levels of gravel and an ideal southeastern exposure. Latour is typified by its concentrated fruit and complexity. Young vintages are forward and jammy with multiple layers of fruit. Aromas include black-currant, cherry and prune, with a dusty bouquet of mint, leather, cedar, and tobacco. Chateau Latour can age a lifetime and should not be approached for ten to twenty years. Some of the best vintages include 1949, 1959, 1961, 1982, 1990, and 2000. Chateau Latour also produces a second wine called Les Forts de Latour and a third wine labeled simply Pauillac.
See other similar producers:Chateau Haut Brion,Chateau Margaux,Chateau Leoville Las Cases
See other similar producers:Chateau Haut Brion,Chateau Margaux,Chateau Leoville Las Cases
Located in the southwest of France, Bordeaux is the single largest fine-wine-producing region in the world, with more than 15,000 growers spread over 57 appellations and more than 700 million bottles produced annually. The region boasts a two-thousand-year winemaking history and some of the wine world's most recognized and highly sought-after names. Red Bordeaux blends comprise eighty percent of production, but dry and sweet whites are also well-known. The region is divided into the Left and Right Banks (of the Dordogne River); Cabernet Sauvignon prevails in the former and Merlot in the latter.
White Bordeaux blends are most commonly composed of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, and come in a range of dry and sweet styles. Sémillon contributes body while Sauvignon Blanc adds high acidity, a characteristic that is particularly important in the sweet wines of Bordeaux.
Sauternes is one of the world’s most prestigious regions for sweet wine production, made possible by Sémillon’s affinity for noble rot. Wines from world-renowned Château d’Yquem are fermented and matured in new oak for up to three years and can age for decades in bottle. These wines display complex aromas of melon, honey, apricot, citrus peel, mango, and butterscotch and develop added complexity and aromas with age.
The best dry wines from this blend come from producers such as Château Haut-Brion, Château Pape Clément, and Domaine de Chevalier in Pessac-Léognan and Graves. These wines are typically fermented and matured in new oak and display a full-bodied richness with concentrated nutty flavors overlaying the fruit.
Collector Data For This Wine
- 3834 bottles owned
- 351 collectors
- Average collector rating: 99
(Out of 351 collectors)