Chateau Latour 2017 tasting notes and ratings “en primeur” by Ronald Rens, M.Sc., Wine Master, Bordeaux Expert
Latour is working towards going 100% biodynamic
Latour is working towards going 100% biodynamic for the “grand vin” (entirely organic) and this is not just an improvement for the wine but a great effort for the planet as well as there are no more chemicals being used. I tasted the Latour at the chateau with Hélène Génin, the technical director of the First Growth. She explained that Latour was touched only slightly by the frost. 2,6ha were lost, mainly on the Pauillac, the third wine. Latour isn’t released on futures anymore. The chateau keeps the wines in bottle in their cellar and releases the wines when they feel that they are entering their drinking window. This year they will release the Pauillac 2013, the Les Forts 2012 and the Latour 2006.
Pauillac de Latour 2017 (16,5 points)
[52.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39.9% Merlot and 7.2% Petit Verdot]
A deep purple color with some hints of red. A very expressive nose with nice fresh fruit tones. On the palate it is the freshness that draws the attention. Pleasant expression of the fruit. Not very long. Very approachable.
Les Forts de Latour 2017 (18 points)
[65,2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 0,8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot]
Way deeper color than the Pauillac with a slight purple ruby edge. Rather closed on the nose with some shy hints of fruity notes. Very strong acidity. Nice well-integrated black fruit (blackcurrant). Strong freshness and a decent length.
Chateau Latour 2017 (19+ points)
Chateau Latour 2017 (19+ points)
[92.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.8% Merlot and 01% Petit Verdot]
Not surprisingly, the deepest of all three wines, with hints of purple and red in the edge. Rather shy but classy nose with some (black)fruit and some vanilla tones. On the palate there is a good expression of the fruit combined with the power of a real Latour with the strong tannic structure that is the signature of the First Growth. A wine that will merit from 5-10 years of aging before showing its full potential.
