2010 Pauillac de Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Pauillac’s Chateau Latour needs little introduction and remains one of the pinnacles of the fine wine world. Classified as a Premiere Cru in the 1855 Classification, the Chateau is currently owned by French Industrialist, Francois Pinault and managed by director Frederic Engerer, under whom the Chateau has kept its preeminent position in the Bordeaux hierarchy.

Three wines are made at the estate, the Grand Vin, Les Forts de Latour and Pauillac de Latour, the latter being a selection from young vines. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend of all of the wines, accounting for around 80% of the 78 hectares under vine. Already a pleasure to drink now, this will benefit from cellaring, I can see it going strong  for another 5 years at least. 2010 produced some truly outstanding wines, classic Claret with the savoury/earthy sensibility one comes to expect from a wine of this quality. 

I remember my first taste of this superb wine in 2011 whilst tasting the 2010 En Primeur. It was the most hedonistic line up – The Grand Vin, Forts de Latour and then the Pauillac. The one thing that stuck in my mind was although there is a very  distinctive difference between the three, how well the  Pauillac (Third wine) fitted in the mould. I have been waiting a while for this to be released and the time has come……. Rich vibrant redcurrant colour shows off its pedigree before you even lift the glass to your nose. Ripe, supple and succulent with really impressive, concentrated, precise black and red fruits it has the house style tattooed beautifully through its core. You could drink it now but I would urge you to hold out a year or so, to enjoy it at its peak. It'll be worth the wait…….. It’s from 2010 and from Latour, what would more could you want. Drink 2016 -2025 
Ben Upjohn, Fine Wine Sales Manager