Chateau Latour Martillac 2016

JAMES SUCKLING: JAMES SUCKLING:"This is very perfumed with blackberry and blueberry aromas, but shows a hot-stone and blanched-almond undertone. Medium-to full-bodied with tight and silky tannins that are extremely polished and beautiful. Love the length and balance to this. Try after 2022."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:"Smoke, thyme, cherry and red plum scents kick off the perfume. But the best part of the wine is on the palate, which is so poised, refined, fresh, sweet and juicy. The red fruits offer sweetness and grip along with silky tannins and a spicy nuance to the fruit in the end note. The wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot. Smoke, thyme, red plum and cherry."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINE ENTHUSIAST:"A structured wine backed by plenty of black-currant fruits, this is initially austere. Its richness needs time to develop and turn into the classically structured wine that this estate does so well. Drink from 2025."

DECANTER: DECANTER:"This has a fairly high aromatic profile, with a lovely density of brambled blackberry and cassis that's deepened with time in the bottle. There’s a touch of austerity through the mid-palate and the acidity is relatively high, but there's fruit and tannin to back it up. It will age extremely well. Impressive."

JEB DUNNUCK: JEB DUNNUCK:"The 2016 Château Latour-Martillac is also terrific and has a structured, medium-bodied, firm style that’s going to benefit from cellaring. Blackberries, graphite, new leather, and a kiss of tobacco all emerge from this nicely textured, pure, layered Pessac. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades."

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung, einladende schwarze Kirschenfrucht, schokoladige Nuancen, zart nach Dörrpflaumen. Mittlere Komplexität, dezente Holzaromen, Gewürznelken, präsente Tannine, etwas weitmaschig im Abgang, bietet unkompliziertes Trinkvergnügen."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:"Solid, with a juicy yet restrained core of dark currant and blackberry compote flavors that should unwind nicely with modest cellaring thanks to nicely embedded brambly grip and dried tobacco leaf, anise and tar notes that run through the gutsy finish. Best from 2021 through 2026."