Chateau Latour has not taken part in the annual Bordeaux En-Primeur campaign since 2012, instead releasing their wines with several years age, when they deem them ready to drink. The 2015 was released to the market in March 2023.
Latour was one of the original four First Growths in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the other three being Margaux, Lafite and Haut-Brion. Mouton joined their ranks in 1973. The estate dates back to the 14th century and lies in the very south eastern corner of Pauillac, near its boundary with Saint-Julien. With a long and storied history, Latour retured to French ownership when Francois Pinault purchased it in 1993. These days the estate is 89ha, the core of which is the 47ha L'Enclos, which sits around the chateau and chais (cellars).
Provenance is the most important thing when buying a wine like this. The wine was purchased direct from the importer and has been stored in a temperature controlled cabinet since it's arrival in Sydney.
“Aromatically this floats out of the glass, intense and concentrated but full of light and life. Waves of flavour come at you, from crushed raspberries, pomegrante and blackcurrant to fresher redcurrant and lemongrass set against richer truffles, crayon and smoked earth. Mouthwatering, this really is a vintage where you can see the impact of the biodynamic vineyard work, with a greater sense of sculpting and violet florality than you would have found in this Pauillac powerhouse a decade earlier, without sacrificing structure and depth. As it opens, the sweetness of a ripe vintage comes through in edges of smoked caramel. A beautiful wine, thoroughly enjoyable, extremely well-handled and set to power through the decades.”
2/2023, 98 points, Jane Anson.
“A seamless, totally captivating wine, the 2015 Latour has no beginning and no end, it simply exists in it own little world of pure and total harmony. Nothing is out of place. Instead, the 2015 captivates both intellectual and hedonistic senses with its remarkable aromatic depth and textural brilliance. Exotic in its ripeness, with tremendous persistence and dazzling balances, the 2015 really does have it all. The 2015 is 97.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.6% Merlot and 0.3% Merlot. Don’t miss it.”
98+ Points, Vinous, Antonio Galloni, Dec 2017.