1959 Château Latour
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Tasting notes
The 1959 Latour is a magical bottle today and one that nips at the heels of the legendary 1961, even if it doesn't quite hit the same level of quality. Still a youthfully saturated garnet-black in hue, it unwinds in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, English walnuts, cigar box and vanilla pod, along with a discreet touch of volatile acidity, which lends aromatic lift more than it detracts (and which actually reminded me of 1960s Unico). Full-bodied, rich and muscular, with huge levels of concentration, ripe tannins and a broad, textural profile, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. Given its structure and substance, this could easily prove to be a 100-year wine, and it will certainly be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Marie-Jeanne (2.25 litres). A bit volatile but charming. Solid and dense. Very very dense. Sturdy. Fresh and solid. (JR)
Dark crimson/ruby. Almost as deep as the 1982. Deeper than the 1961. Very, very fresh, and yet full. Rather old-fashioned, but miraculously lively. Minerals. Wonderful, full, and fully mature impact on the palate. Slightly dry end. Wonderful wine. (JR)
About the producer
One of Bordeaux’s five First Growths, as classified in 1855, Ch. Latour is among the most famous addresses in Pauillac and the world. The estate is renowned for its long-ageing, powerful and structured wines.