Chateau Latour 1975

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Magnum. Still very dark. This vintage that seemed so exceptionally tough in its youth has indeed come right in the end. It's still firm and dense with that mineral 'sucking on a stone' character and a hint of yeast extract. Correct, appetising. Hint of tarriness. Very firm, very Latour. There will surely always be a strong framework on this wine."

DECANTER: "Excellent, the standout wine of this lineup; hugely soft tannins and evident purity and integrity in the soft autumnal fruits, given extra complexity by notes of pencil lead and soft leather with crème de cassis on the finish. As with Les Forts de Latour, the wine would have been aged in new oak barrels, at least in part, and that has had an impact on how well it has aged. Henri Martin commented on September 26, as harvest was beginning, that the health of the grapes was superb, but that he felt the colour in the skins was a little lacking. He might have been pleasantly surprised by how well the colour has stood up to four decades of ageing, as this is one of the darkest and most complete on display. In the perfect window for drinking now, but honestly there is still no rush to consume. Drinking Window 2015 - 2025"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Firm, masculine and old school in style, the wine offers what you'd expect in an older Pauillac, with its cassis, lead pencil, tobacco, cigar box and earthy character. There is depth to the fruit, along with some roughness to the tannins, but that does not take anything away from its charm. The wine is mature and ready to drink. This bottle was decanted about 2 hours before serving, which helped soften its tough nature."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Fascinating aromas of plums, minerals and mint, with a hint of peat. Medium- to full-bodied, with firm tannins and a long finish. Plenty of life left in it. This was rather controversial at the NY tasting, but I loved it.--Latour vertical. Drink now through 2015."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "1975 was a great vintage apart from rains in mid-September and into the harvest period. Brick colored, the 1975 Latour has a mature nose of fallen leaves, tobacco, figs and oolong tea with a savory/meaty core and wafts of dried fruitcake. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, refreshing and softly textured with a long, mineral-laced finish."