Latour - Pauillac 2015

Wine Advocate

96

par William Kelley le 06/04/2023

A rich and demonstrative vintage for this estate, the 2015 Latour unfurls in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, loamy soil, espresso roast, pencil shavings and a subtle hint of potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, supple and elegant, with a velvety attack that segues into a sweet, layered mid-palate, it's enveloping and complete, concluding with a sapid finish. The tauter, more classical 2014 is likely to prove longer lived, whereas the giving 2015 is a Latour that it wouldn't be a crime to drink young.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

98

par Jane Anson le 27/02/2023

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. Harvest September 15 to October 10, 30% of production in the main wine. Hélène Genin technical director.

The Wine Independent

99

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 17/11/2022

The 2015 Latour is a blend of 97.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.6% Merlot, and 0.3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet in color, it needs a little swirling to uncover the latent scents of black and red currant preserves, followed by notes of juicy blackberries, baked plums, and incense, plus touches of graphite and violets. The medium-bodied palate is completely filled with energetic black fruit and exotic spice layers, framed by super-ripe, firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with a muscular burst of pure black fruit and lingering mineral sparks.

Vinous

96

par Neal Martin le 10/07/2019

The 2015 Latour has a sensual, richer and more exotic bouquet than its peers, featuring plush red fruit intermingling with raisin and fig, although there is no sur-maturité here; the wine is just crafted in a more opulent style for this First Growth. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a fine bead of acidity. This feels very cohesive and focused, and more saline than its peers. Veins of brown spice and leather surface toward the complex, engaging finish. I would have liked a little more length, but otherwise this is very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Vinous

98

par Antonio Galloni le 27/02/2018

A seamless, totally captivating wine, the 2015 Latour has no beginning and no end, it simply exists in its own little world of pure and total harmony. Nothing is out of place. Instead, the 2015 captivates both the 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% Petit Verdot. Don't miss it. 98+

Wine Advocate

98

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 22/02/2018

Blended of 97.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.6% Merlot and 0.3% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Latour is exquisitely perfumed, displaying fragrant notes of crushed black cherries, raspberry preserves, cassis and black plums with nuances of roses, dark chocolate, garrigue, menthol and a waft of sandalwood. The medium-bodied palate beautifully struts its taut, toned, muscular fruit with a frame of very firm, smooth, rounded tannins and compelling freshness, finishing with alluring earth and mineral layers. At once intellectual and sexy, this truly evocative vintage brings to mind the Melanie Griffith line from “Working Girl," possessing a sultry “head for business and a bod for sin."

Wine Spectator

97

par James Molesworth le 15/02/2018

This packs some serious warm dark currant, fig and blackberry compote flavors together at the core, with charcoal, singed bay leaf, tobacco and roasted alder notes forming the foundation. Grippy for sure, but there's already alluring perfume and violet elements weaving around here. This has put on some serious weight and dark fruit since the barrel tasting, but remains all tensile strength. It will be fun to watch this age. Best from 2025 through 2045.   –JM

Jamessuckling.com

98

par James Suckling le 12/02/2018

Aromas of iron, oyster shell, rust and stones with blueberries and blackberries. Full-bodied, yet ever so polished and refined. It rolls off the palate with fruit and salty flavors. Tight, focused and always refined. Pretty length. 97% cabernet sauvignon gives this brightness. Drink in 2022.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

par Jeff Leve le 30/04/2016

The signature of this vintage of Latour is elegance. With a dark, ruby hue, you find minerality with oyster shell, cassis, floral and dark cherry tones. The cashmere tannins, balance and purity of fruit fashion a texture that caresses your palate. Using 97.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the highest amount in the history of the estate, coupled with 2.6% Merlot and .03% Petit Verdot, this wine reached 13.04% alcohol. The Grand Vin was produced from only 30% of the harvest.

Wine Advocate

95-97

par Neal Martin le 29/04/2016

The 2015 Latour is a blend of 97.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.6% Merlot (just one historical vat courtesy of old vines interpolated with the Cabernet) and 0.3% Petit Verdot. It represents 30% of the production and is matured in 100% new oak as usual. It has a very complex, nuanced bouquet that needs 10-15 minutes to open. It blossoms with blackberry, briary, hoisin and slate notes, but it remains very focused and linear. The palate is extremely well balanced with fine grain tannin. For certain, this is an intense Latour with a strong and tangible undertow of mineralité. This is classic Latour: aristocratic, aloof at first, perhaps enigmatic compared to other vintages. I wonder if this has something hiding up its sleeve for after bottling?

Decanter.com

97

par Steven Spurrier le 27/04/2016

Wonderful expression of 97% Cabernet fruit – a complete departure from the brooding Latour of a decade ago. Beautifully fragrant and fresh but the Pauillac weight is there and great purity too. This is a gamble on a new style of Latour, a bet that I am sure the château will win.2025-2050

Vinous

94-97

par Antonio Galloni le 27/04/2016

A wine of finesse and nuance, the 2015 Latour possesses remarkable polish from start to finish. Beautifully ripe, silky tannins give the 2015 an element of pure sensuality that is front and center in this vintage. Hints of blood orange, spice and mint add an upper register of aromatics. It will be interesting to see if the 2015 gains volume and structure in bottle. For now, some of the explosive power that characterizes Latour is either missing or buried by the fruit. We will see. The 2015 is the first vintage made from biodynamically farmed fruit. Tasted two times.

Jancis Robinson

17

par Jancis Robinson le 26/04/2016

Bordeaux 2015 - Pomerol, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Fronsac | Articles | JancisRobinson.com A Jean-Pierre Moueix wine. 9 ha (22 acres) of gravel, clay and sand. 96% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Mid crimson. Very aromatic and lifted. Very juicy and satisfying even if not that intense. Drink 2024-2038

timatkin.com

97

par Tim Atkin MW le 20/04/2016

Jancis Robinson

18

par Jancis Robinson le 19/04/2016

Bordeaux 2015 - Pauillac | Articles | JancisRobinson.com Very dark crimson. Scented and quite heady. Lively and muscular. Racy and really pacy. Not a charmer though. Very introvert. Bone-dry finish. A bit more tingle and life than in earlier vintages, though 2014 was probably the turning-point vintage for Latour. Hélène says the wine is more closed today than usual. Drink 2028-205018+

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 18/04/2016

Couleur sombre et intense. Joli nez parfumé. Bouche suave et élancée à la fois, savoureuse, aromatique et très agréable.

Wine Enthusiast

97-99

par Roger Voss le 15/04/2016

Barrel Sample. Seriously structured and yet also so smooth, this wine has great concentration and powerful tannins. There is wonderful juiciness here as well as dense, dusty tannins that are never hard, always velvet. It is going to be a great wine when it is released in maybe 10 years time. The wine comes only from vineyards that are biodynamic. 98 points

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

par James Suckling le 05/04/2016

This is extremely compressed and elegant with fantastic finesse and structure. Full body, tight and racy. Lots of black currants and black berries. The quality of tannins are like tight, yet velvety tannins. Very minerally.