Chateau Latour 1995

WEINWISSER: "Magnum. Sattes, undurchdringliches Weinrot, keine Reife. Geniales Bouquet; wilder, minziger, mineralischer Cabernet, Teernuancen, in Port eingelegte Sommertrüffel, Baumnüsse, Leder und viel grossartiger Tabak. Das ist das grosse Terroir-Nasenkino! Im Gaumen noch fest, verlangend und doch eine erste Offenbarung bietend, sehr ausgeglichene Adstringenz, nachhaltig und mit dramatischen Reserven. Ich dachte bisher, dass dies eher ein femininer Latour wird. Diese markige Magnum zeigt schier das Gegenteil. Ein bewegender Schluck eines Monuments der Gegenwart. Lange dekantieren. -trinken-"

DECANTER: "The nose showed warm and sunny, baked black and red fruit on the nose and a supple but dense texture. The impressive level of tannin noted in earlier tastings is softening now, and the wine is ready to drink but will hold. A lovely wine, outperforming the 1996 at this point. Picking was finished in September, taking place from the 13th to the 27th. The final blend is nearly three-quarters Cabernet Sauvignon, with just a drop of Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot and Merlot for the balance."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A beauty, the opaque dense purple-colored 1995 exhibits jammy cassis, vanillin, and minerals in its fragrant but still youthful aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with exceptional purity, superb concentration, and a long, intense, ripe, 40-second finish, this is a magnificent example of Latour. As the wine sat in the glass, scents of roasted espresso and toasty new oak emerged. This classic will require considerable cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "It has been close to a decade since I last this wine. The time in the cellar has added a lot here. Still youthful, some secondary characteristics have started appearing. Now you find cigar wrapper, creme de cassis, oyster shell, smoke, forest floor, cranberry, and red plums. Full-bodied, powerful, tannic, and with a gentle austerity, there is a firmness in the finish that works perfectly with all the layers of ripe, crisp, red berries. 2 hours in the decanter works well here. Drink from 2025-2065."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Lustrous deep crimson almost right out to the rim still. Hint of mint on the nose – quite aromatic. Pretty. Charming for a Latour grand vin! Though there is a strong undertow of graphite. More intense than 1996."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Black licorice, cedar, cigar box and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and very structured, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Needs time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2009."

FALSTAFF: "Sattes Rubin; nach Rauch und Haselnüssen, dahinter schöne Frucht; sehr schöne, feste Tannine, lange anhaltend, im Finale warm und feurig."