Forts de Latour - Pauillac 2012

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/2015

The second wine, from vineyards outside of their famous walled l’enclos, the 2012 Les Forts de Latour (75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance mostly Merlot) is a beautiful, elegant wine with a dense purple color, notes of sweet black cherries and blackcurrants, subtle background minerality and no evidence of oak. This medium to full-bodied, beautifully constructed and layered Les Forts de Latour should drink nicely for 15 or more years.

Jamessuckling.com

92 / 100

par James Suckling le 15/02/2015

Perfumed and bright with mineral, currant, raspberry and citrus character. Full body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. Orange peel. Better in 2017.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

par James Molesworth le 10/02/2015

Admirably rich for the vintage, with solid plum and black currant paste flavors, allied to a decidedly brisk and racy structure and backed by plum pit, iron and singed alder notes through the finish, giving this a rather linear feel overall. Should age well, and will likely always have more cut than breadth. Best from 2017 through 2025. 11,933 cases made. –JM

timatkin.com

94 / 100

par Tim Atkin MW le 30/06/2013

The best second wine from a first growth in 2012, reflecting the quality of Latour itself, this is not a big, buxom Pauillac by any means, but its charms are considerable, with lovely focus and freshness, refined tannins and hints of graphite, minerality and blackcurrant. Long and well balanced. Drink: 2020-35

Le Point

15,5-16 / 100

par Jacques Dupont le 16/05/2013

Fruits rouges, joli nez très expressif, bouche ronde, épicée, joli fruit, tendu, serré, un peu agressif en finale. O= 2017 G= 13 ans.

Wine Advocate

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par Neal Martin le 02/05/2013

Tasted en primeur at the château. The Les Forts de Latour is a blend of 76.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. It has a more harmonious bouquet than the Pauillac de Latour with ripe blackberry, dark plum and black olive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition. There is a crisp seam of acidity, silky smooth and more approachable that recent vintages, with a graphite tinged, slightly savoury, salty finish. Tasted April 2013

Wine Spectator

91-94 / 100

par James Molesworth le 30/04/2013

Rather bright, offering plum pit, Campari, damson plum and black cherry fruit, with a strong violet note and a lovely, brisk, iron-framed finish. Very racy. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

17.5 / 20

par Matthew Jukes le 30/04/2013

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

par Robert Parker le 26/04/2013

The 2012 Les Forts de Latour is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot and a bit of Petit Verdot. 42.4% of the crop made it into this second wine. It is a lighter-styled, medium-bodied effort exhibiting notes of graphite, black currants and wet rocks along with an attractive mid-weight and freshness. There is a lot of precision and elegance to this 2012, which, like its bigger brother, is lighter than most vintages. Chateau Latour harvested its Merlot between September 24 and October 4, and most of the crop ended up in Les Forts de Latour and Pauillac. The Cabernet Sauvignon was picked between October 5 and 16, the Cabernet Franc on October 8 (obviously a wet harvest), and the Petit Verdot on October 12. The 2012 Latour, which is off the market as a wine future until the Pinault family and Frederic Engerer agree on when to release it (probably 7-8 years from now), is a blend of 90.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.6% Merlot and the rest a tiny dollop of Petit Verdot. Only 36% of the crop was utilized in the grand vin, which achieved 12.8% natural alcohol.

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 26/04/2013

Aromas of cedar chest and cassis led to a polished wine with soft textures and refined tannins which produced an elegant style of Forts de Latour. Reaching 12.8% alcohol, the wine ended with fresh, polished black raspberry fruits. 90-92 Pts

My Bettane + Desseauve

17 / 20

le 26/04/2013

Très plein, long, cèdre avec de la chair, intensité, volume énergique, longueur charnue.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,25 / 20

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 25/04/2013

Couleur sombre de bonne intensité et belle. Nez fruité, fin et mûr. Bouche ronde, juteuse, très aromatique et suave. Le vin évolue très hédoniste et s’achève sur une longueur normale, savoureuse au grain fin.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 24/04/2013

Drink 2020-2035Dark purple. Smoky nose. An edge of gunsmoke. Different and more demanding to taste than previous years. Just a little stringy.

Decanter.com

17,5 / 20

par Steven Spurrier le 22/04/2013

Superb colour, cassis fruit and the classic graphite grip of top Pauillacs, fragrance, precision and great class. 17.5/20pts ( 91/100pts)Drink: 2017 - 2030