Chateau Latour 2008

Château Latour is an outstanding First Growth Bordeaux produced in the noble commune, Pauillac. The Château and vineyards border the St. Julien commune at the southern end of Pauillac.  Here they produce 3 wines at different levels: Le Grand Vin, Les Forts de Latour, which was established in 1966 and considered to be a wine in its own right, rather than a 2nd wine, and Pauillac de Latour which is produced from younger vines. The Grand Vin is made exclusively from old vines with an average of 60 years-old, in the Enclos that sit beside the Chateau. Château Latour is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend, accounting for 80% of the vineyard whilst Merlot is 18%. Latour prefer to use a minimum of Merlot in the blend as they believe it reduces the Cabernet character in their wines. Latour is considered to be one of the most consistent and powerful first growth Chateaux and even in the lesser vintages, create wines of grace and longevity.

“Composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 0.75% Cabernet Franc and 0.25% Petit Verdot, the 2008 Latour gives a medium to deep garnet color and slips sensuously out of the glass with Chinese five spice, unsmoked cigars, sandalwood and dried roses scents over a core of warm cassis, Black Forest cake, chocolate mint and smoked meats plus a waft of black olives and garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is well-sustained in the middle with generous black fruits and lovely red fruit sparks, layered with savory nuances and a firm, grainy backbone, finishing with bags of perfume and freshness.” 
95/100 Lisa Perrotti Brown, Wine Advocate.