Forts de Latour - Pauillac 2015

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/22/2021

Composed of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.9% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Les Forts de Latour needs a fair bit of air to unlock a profound, powerhouse nose of blackcurrant cordial, boysenberries, plum preserves and dark chocolate, with suggestions of Chinese five spice, clove oil, violets and crushed rocks. The palate packs an absolute flavor wallop, bursting with rich, ripe black fruits and loads of spicy sparks, while framed by beautifully plush tannins, finishing long and minerally. Not at all heavy, on the contrary, the Les Forts is both expansive AND tantalizingly refreshing. In terms of evolution, it has barely budged since I last tasted it in 2017. While it's drinking very well right now, it easily has a good 20 years of cellaring ahead, maybe more. Impressive. 94+

Vinous

94 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe3/21/2021

The 2015 Les Forts de Latour is silky, perfumed and wonderfully nuanced from the very first taste. Crushed red berry, cedar, tobacco, mint and blood orange lend striking aromatic nuance. Ample and resonant in feel, yet with mid-weight structure, the 2015 is a total pleasure to taste today. All of the natural radiance of the warm year comes through in the wine's generous, inviting personality. Drink it over the next 15 years or so.

Decanter.com

94 / 100

byJane Ansonthe2/26/2021

On the nose you get a full array of floral aromatics, and a gorgeous exuberance. The gourmet edge that is never far away from the surface in the 2015 vintage is very much in play, along with touches of truffle, cigar box and an earthy openness even at six years old. A smoked caramel note comes in on the end, as does a hit of mouthwatering salinity. It's not as intense as Forts in vintages like 2010 or 2016 but it has an ease to it that is hugely appealing, and can be drunk from now and for at least another 15 years. 0.5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend (the last vintage to contain even a slice of this grape, as it has now been pulled up). 40% of overall production.
Drinking Window 2021 - 2038

Vinous

94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe7/10/2019

The 2015 Les Forts de Latour has a little more fruit intensity than its peers, offering blackberry, graphite and cedar – all quintessential Pauillac – though it would benefit from a tad more precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip, beautiful balance and polished blackberry and bilberry fruit toward the finish, where a tang of salinity lends tension. This is an outstanding Les Forts de Latour. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe3/2/2018

The 2015 Latour, which was bottled in July 2017, has an immediately impactful bouquet with intense black fruit laced with subtle notes of seaweed and sea spray, as if a little of the Gironde estuary imparts its character into the aromatics. It is extremely well defined and very focused, that slate-like note replaced by a subtle mintiness. The palate is silky smooth on the entry that almost betrays the depth and volume of this Latour. This is a voluminous, multifaceted Latour rather than a powerful one, layers of black fruit infused with graphite and cedar that leads to a very long finish. It will require a decade in bottle before it enters its drinking plateau although there is a sense of approachability that I suspect will deceive some into broaching this too early. Anticipated maturity: 2025 - 2065.

Vinous

94 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/27/2018

The 2015 Les Forts de Latour is a dark, authoritative wine. Graphite, smoke, gravel, menthol, violet and creme de cassis build as this powerful, virile wine shows off its brooding, virile personality. The 2015 finishes with a burst of explosive energy that only adds to its considerable allure. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2015 is likely to require a number of years in bottle to be approachable. Even at this early stage, the 2015 Forts de Latour is simply gorgeous. The 2015 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.9% Petit Verdot.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe2/22/2018

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.9% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Les Forts de Latour features a deep garnet-purple color and quite an earthy nose of black soil and crushed rocks with a core of red and black currants, mulberries and pencil lead plus hints of lavender and cloves. Tightly wound, firm, fine grained and lively in the medium-bodied mouth, it concludes with loads of energy and great poise.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/15/2018

Very pure and focused, with black currant and black cherry fruit flavors showing lovely freshness, while light graphite, singed black tea leaf and violet hints check in through the silky finish. Best from 2019 through 2032. –JM

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/12/2018

Aromas of iron, rust and hot stones with currants and dark berries follow through to a full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins and a long and polished finish. Racy and driven. Drink in 2022.

Vinifera

4 / 5

the5/31/2016

Très noblement mentholé, notes balsamiques. Très belle intensité gustative au palais. Il est dense, profond. Il a un velouté de texture rare pour un Fort. Superbe équilibre avec un tanin parfaitement enrobé. La fougue du vin est parfaitement contenue.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

With a blast of cassis, flowers, plum and blackberries, this wine has a graceful charisma with plump, sweet fruits that feel soft on the palate.

Wine Advocate

92-94 /

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016

The 2015 Les Forts de Latour is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.9% Petit Verdot, representing 40% of the production. It has a very succinct bouquet, quite understated for Les Forts de Latour with a marine influence filtering through the dark plum and briary fruit. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, not huge depth here but harmonious and sensual, fanning out gently with graphite-tinged black fruit that linger long in the mouth. This is a classy Les Forts de Latour that will age gracefully over 20 years or more.

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

The 2015 Les Forts de Latour is both super-expressive and quite representative of the house style. A host of graphite, licorice, menthol, and herb notes flesh out in an effortless, deep wine oozing with class. Scents of lavender, mint and rose petal add the closing shades of nuance. Beams of supporting tannin give the wine its energy, while there is more than enough freshness to convey tension and vivacity. This is a strong showing. Tasted two times.

Decanter.com

92 / 100

bySteven Spurrierthe4/27/2016

More lively impression than previous vintages – more exuberant and quite St-Julien in style. A very polished, modern Forts de Latour. 2021-2035

timatkin.com

93 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

Jancis Robinson

17 /

byJancis Robinsonthe4/19/2016

They are picking these grapes earlier nowadays. Dark crimson. Very sumptuous nose. Massive sweetness on the front palate and then Pauillac stoniness. A real charmer. Lots of vigour and punch. Complete and very dry. Needs lots of time. Drink 2025-204017+

Wine Enthusiast

93-95 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/15/2016

Barrel Sample. There is a velvet touch to this smooth, rounded wine. With some dark tannins as well as blackberry fruits, it is rich with some concentration. At the same time, the acidity shoots through the wine to give a really fruity aftertaste. 94 points

René Gabriel

17 / 20

the4/10/2016

Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Verhaltenes Bouquet, blaubeerige Noten, wenig Ausstrahlung im Moment. Im Gaumen eher schlank mit feiner Rasse, Zedernaromen, heller Tabak, Leder und Pfeffernoten. Er wirkt eher leicht und hat wenig Latour-Reflektionen. Sonst ist er in der Regel in den letzten Jahren immer ein «kleiner Latour» gewesen. Heuer ist es leider ein «nicht so grosser Pauillac». 17/20 2023 – 2038