Chateau Latour 2005

WEINWISSER: "87 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 % Merlot, 0,5 % Cabernet Franc, 0,5 % Petit Verdot. Dichtes Purpurgranat. Ein schier unfassbar tiefgründiges Parfüm aus Flieder, Trüffel, Oliven, Liebstöckel und edelstem Tabak, gepaart mit feinster Blaubeerenaromatik und Graphit in der Kopfnote. Dahinter reifes Cassis und die typische Latour-Würze mit exotischen Gewürzen, Edelhölzern und Zeder, durch und durch aristokratisch. Am Gaumen dicht und fest gewoben, geradezu an ein gotisches Bauwerk erinnernd, sehr viel gebündelte Kraft, grosse innere Dichte mit perfekt reifer und komplexer, seidig-süsser Gerbstoffstruktur; im saftigen, ewig langen Finale (ein Tick länger als der 2016er) nochmal mit präziser Frucht und feiner Würze, die an salzige Oliven und Liebstöckel erinnert. Beim zweiten Schluck blickten wir nur noch demütig aus dem Fenster hinaus auf die Gironde und die Kirchtürme von Pauillac. Auch ohne deren Läuten hatte der doppelte Latour-Hammer zugeschlagen. Ein perfekter Wein mit Maximalnote, der in die erste Genussphase kommt."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A great wine, the summation of a great vintage in Bordeaux. The core of richness, the dense, bone-dry tannins, the black currants, red berries and black plum skins are the elements, but it's the way they have been integrated that makes this such an impressive wine. There is great elegance as well, a fabulous counterpoint to such power. Cellar for at least 15 years, but this will keep forever."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Very open and beautiful now with currants, light chocolate and spices. Incense as well. Full-bodied, tight and reserved with a fantastic center palate of fruit and firm tannins. Closed and hiding behind the structure and depth. Needs time to open still but already a joy to taste (drink!)."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, in der Nase zunächst verhalten, tiefes dunkles Beerenkonfit, zarte Nuancen von Nougat, Mandarinen und Orangenschalen, sehr vielschichtig. Am Gaumen bereits unglaublich harmonisch, herrliche Kirschenfrucht, lebendige Säurestruktur, wirkt unglaublich leichtfüßig, feine Amarenakirschen, mineralisch und lange, ein ungemein faszinierender Wein, bei dem alles am rechten Platz ruht."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dark ruby black in color. Brilliant, intense aromas of mineral, blackberry and currant, with hints of Indian spices and cigar box, lead to a full-bodied palate, with ultrafine tannins and a beautiful balance of blackberry, raspberry and mineral. There's subtlety, yet also great depth. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is a Latour with fabulous tone and vigor. Best after 2018. 12,500 cases made."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "2005 was a very dry, warm and sunny vintage, causing vine stress in some areas of Bordeaux. Harvested from September 26 to October 6, the tannin/IPT levels were very high this year. The 2005 Latour is blended of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is the biggest surprise of this tasting—until now, the wine was relatively closed and broody, but today the wine is just starting to reveal its personality—and what a stunner! Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with provocative floral scents of roses and violets over a core of fresh blackcurrants, chocolate-covered cherries and black raspberries with hints of fertile loam, unsmoked cigars and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and packed with muscular fruit, it has an epically long, savory finish sparked by floral notes. 12,000 cases were made."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A massive, powerful wine that tastes like the essence of the great estate, the 2005 Château Latour is based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Petit Verdot brought up in new barrels. It reveals a saturated purple/plum color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of blackcurrants, graphite, gravelly earth, tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate. Dense, full-bodied, and massively concentrated, it has the more austere, masculine style of the estate front and center, yet has gorgeously sweet tannin, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. This profound, regal 2005 can be drunk any time over the coming 40-50 years, and I suspect even longer."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Powerful, tannic, bold, firm and structured, this is perhaps the quintessential example of the fist inside the iron glove. This is incredibly powerful, focused and precise. It's also quite structured, dense and tannic."

DECANTER: "The Latour was magnificent but is now, unfortunately, in something of a dumb phase. The aromas showed a balanced mix of red and black fruit with appropriate accents from the maturation in new casks and the trademark earthy undercurrent accented with tar and leather notes. The extract has a substantial feel, and yet the tannins remain silky. One has the sense that, like all Latour, it will age exceedingly well, but it is far from showing its full potential. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, and picking began on 26 September. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Dark with some ruby edge. Smudgy nose. Relatively light and burnt edges. Not the most focused. Edgy. Lots of tannins but needs time. Sweeter than one would imagine and tannins softer than one would expect. Much softer than expected. Tightens up on the end."