Decanter | D 98
Published: Jan 4, 2021
Drink: 2023-2040

Inky black even at 25 years old. A hugely impressive wine, with plenty of chewy tannins still in play, ripples of cassis, bilberry and blackberry fruits, set against olive paste, charcoal and eucalyptus. Things have softened around the edges no question, this is still full of life with decades ahead of it, but this is a great moment to start enjoying its promise. Textbook Latour in many ways, for its austerity and power, and its serious character that is underlaid by concentrated pleasure showcasing 'the gift of sub-gravel clays'. 56% of overall production in the first wine. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Last released in 2014 as an ex-château wine.

Closure: Natural Cork
Alcohol: 13.00%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 4% Cabernet Franc 78% Cabernet Sauvignon 17% Merlot

The Wine Advocate | RP 95+
Published: March 1, 2022
Drink: 2025-2065

From my cellar, the 1996 Latour is still a very youthful, tightly wound wine, unfurling in the glass with notions of blackcurrants, loamy soil, cigar wrapper and English walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's built around by ripe, increasingly melting tannins and a bright spine of acidity, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. Given this Latour's ruby-black hue and impeccable structure, it still has a long future ahead of it. Today, it really begins to expatiate after four hours in a decanter.

Chateau-latour.com

A little austere at first compared to the previous vintage, the concentration of this wine then takes on a delightfully rich aspect: it combines a surprising classic, balanced, solid tannic structure that has perfect, plump tannins thanks to a superb maturity, with very pure fruit. A wine that will keep for a very long time!