Louis Latour
Château Latour
Les Forts de Latour Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
I have waited nearly 20 yrs to have this with a steak. Tonight is the night. It’s still early, but a good first look. I would have the next of 3 bottles in 5 yrs and another in 10 yrs.
After a 3 plus hour decant, it still has brawn. With the Ribcap, more than the dark core showed up. Some blue fruits, ripe strawberries and raspberries came out to play.
This still has not hit its precipice.
This is classic Bordeaux & Latour in a grand vintage.
The palate has a dark core of black currants, brambly, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum with strawberries & raspberries & a touch of blueberries as it sets. Dry tobacco & leather, plenty of graphite, moist grey, volcanic clay, dark rich soils with limestone & pebbles, dark spices w/ some palate heat, hints of caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & faint vanillin, dry twig, mid berry cola, dry herbs, dry & withering, dark & red florals framed in withering violets, round acidity with still big tension/struture, balance is almost there as is the finish that goes on and on settling on dry earthiness & spice. Better in 5 yrs and drink well for 15 yrs. — a month ago
Château Latour
Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
Pretty deep ruby with thin violet rim . Quite ripe and generously fruited , blackberry , dark cherry , touches of cocoa , toasty oak. On the palate this has more of the ripe dark fruits of the nose , blackberry , cassis , dark cherry with but with some spicy notes along with some grafite and toasty hints . Quite ripe but noticeable grippy tannins , and balanced acidity . Alcohol also appears well intergrated, though there is a roundness to this. Quite user friendly for Latour (remember though , this is the 3rd wine!) but that means that the 2019 is actually enjoyable to drink now but will probably repay aging over the next 5-10 years . Not particularly complex but well made and well balanced especially given the 14% alcohol . I don’t think that tasted blind this could be anything other than the Medoc, the more modern , warmer Medoc than 20 -30 years ago of course . The level of many other 2nd wines , though not their Grand Vins. Next day still showing well , a little more grafite and earthiness , cooler dark fruits. Tannins still quite noticable , saline tinged grafite finish. — 9 days ago
Louis Roederer
Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2014
Medium light lemon straw colour , very fine constant bubbles . Quite restrained and mineral on the nose , with some light toasty notes , white flowers , lemon oil . Quite closed . On the palate this is really quite intense and mineral , oyster shell , chalky , limestone hints . Some lemon pith and a lightly toasty with a saline hint , fresh acidity , long and detailed , refined and very balanced . Really young still , needs time to open and will be long lived . Better in 5- 10 years and will last well a further 5-10 years — 14 days ago
Château Latour à Pomerol
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
Wow….my impression of this wine front to back compounded me…bright but sharp fruit backbone to an older Pomerol terroir and ruddier …so fun! — 8 days ago
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2022
Opened this a few years too early. Dark and brooding. Olives, violet, blackberry. Wild and savory. Would love to try this again in a few years! — 12 days ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
This is being served colder than I would like and that said, the nose is not all that expressive. There is green apple, stone fruits, Meyer lemon to notes of lemon pledge, lime pulp, ripe, juicy pineapple, limestone marl, notes of marmalade, honeysuckle, light butterscotch, yellow lilies/flowers, white flowers.
The palate has a clean, round smooth entry. It is good but it tastes restrained to me. Maybe, the cool temp. Green apple, stone fruits-apricots, yellow peach/nectarine, Meyer lemon to a touch of lemon pledge, lime pulp, ripe, juicy pineapple, kiwi, green melon, notes of marmalade, honeysuckle, more pronounced butterscotch, caramel as it warms up, vanillin, gentle chalky powder, limestone marl, grey volcanic minerals, white spice, herbaceous hues, yellow lilies/flowers, white flowers with greens, nice round acidity, the finish is well balanced, round & elegant, a bit viscous and lasts about a minute.
I’ve had a number of producers from CC. I have had multiple vintages of LL’s CC and it simply doesn’t deliver like some of the other producers I’ve had that make white from CC. For me, it’s a nice wine but has often underwhelmed given the terroir.
I have had good vintages of white Bourgogne’s that show this nicely and better.
@EK225 — a day ago