Chateau Latour 2008

WEINWISSER: "40 % der Ernte im Grand Vin (130 000 Flaschen), nur 6 % Presswein (2007: 15 %). 94 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc und Petit Verdot. Sehr dunkles, tiefes Granat mit lila und violettem Rand. Bereits in der Nase eine Klasse für sich: Grosses, erhabenes, ja nahezu perfektes Cabernet-Bouquet mit reichlich schwarzen Beeren und einem Hauch Dörrbananen, im Untergrund Trüffel und schwarze Edelhölzer. Im Gaumen setzt sich die Perfektion fort: feinste Tannine, königliche Adstringenz, alles ist nobel und von einer Eleganz, wie man es von einem jungen Cabernet Sauvignon in einem derart frühen Stadium selten erwarten kann. Ein Meisterwerk aus einem Jahrgang, von dem derart grandiose Weine eigentlich nicht zu erwarten waren."

JEB DUNNUCK: "I continue to love the 2008 Château Latour, unquestionably in the top handful of wines in the vintage. A rich, powerful blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, this ruby/purple-hued beauty boasts a classic Latour nose of blackcurrants, spice box, saddle leather, tobacco leaf, and cedar pencil. Deep, medium to full-bodied, and perfectly balanced, give it another 2-3 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 2-3 decades."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Expressive fruit aromas and wood perfumes announce this wine. With 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a complex wine marked by purity of black fruits, berries, toast and tannins. It has power, richness and a lovely edge of spice to go with the acidity. The wine is firmly structured, while bursting with fruit and freshness."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 0.75% Cabernet Franc and 0.25% Petit Verdot, the 2008 Latour gives a medium to deep garnet color and slips sensuously out of the glass with Chinese five spice, unsmoked cigars, sandalwood and dried roses scents over a core of warm cassis, Black Forest cake, chocolate mint and smoked meats plus a waft of black olives and garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is well-sustained in the middle with generous black fruits and lovely red fruit sparks, layered with savory nuances and a firm, grainy backbone, finishing with bags of perfume and freshness."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is dense and muscular, but balanced, with the flesh to offset the sinew, as pure mulled black currant, melted fig and crushed plum fruit is caressed by substantial but fine-grained structure. The long, iron- and tobacco-filled finish has excellent focus and drive. This could rival LLC for longest-lived wine of the vintage. Best from 2013 through 2022. 9,500 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Bright crimson. Very minty nose. But quite luscious fruit on the palate. Velvety texture but still with lots of tannins still so no hurry to drink."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Just starting to show off its layers of silky, juicy, fresh, plum and dark chocolate character. The wine is soft, sensuous and hedonistic."