Latour 2007

Pauillac, First Growth

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Tasting Notes
The 2007 Latour was late-released last year, and I reviewed it at that time. This bottle reaffirmed my remarks from a few months ago albeit here within the context of all the other First Growth. I noticed that it has slightly more intensity than the Lafite-Rothschild, a touch of menthol infusing the black fruit, certainly more exotic than the Lafite or Mouton with that subtle hint of black olive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is good muscle and weight to this Latour, with impressive tension and energy on the saline finish. It will drink well over the next 15 years, possibly longer. Tasted February 2017. Score: 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2035 30 June 2017
The 2007 Latour is the most recent late-release from the First Growth estate that abandoned en primeur after the 2011 vintage. Incidentally, this was the first vintage that Frédéric Engerer made with cellar technical director, Hélène Génin. "It was not an easy wine when it was young," he remarked when pouring the wine. Nevertheless, as it approaches ten years of age, the 2007 is finally entering its drinking plateau. It has a deep, quite lucid, dark garnet color. The nose is fresh and well defined. What I appreciate here is the focus, since 2007 was never a vintage to bestow power or immense complexity. Here, you wallow in lovely aromas of blackberry, bilberry and briary with that hint of black olive that I noticed four years ago when I last tasted it. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It feels attractively saline, fresh and crisp, though not angular. Again, it is the focus and detail that enhances this vibrant Château Latour and its keen line of acidity lends it the freshness to become just about drinkable. The length is moderate, rather than extraordinarily long, though its pencil lead finish takes you straight to Pauillac thereby enhancing typicité. This is a fine Latour from an underrated vintage. Tasted July 2016. Score: - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2037 01 July 2016
The Latour 2007 includes 15% pressed wine, the most since 1999. Limpid purple/garnet core with pink rim. An attractive nose, thematically following the Les Forts de Latour with a certain femininity with an attractive brightness. Excellent delineation. Builds nicely in the glass when I return to it after ten minutes developing a slight briny note, almost oyster shell quality. The palate is full-bodied, firm robust tannins, not the fruit intensity of previous vintages, again a rather stripped down Latour but still with excellent balance and very focused. Graphite, cedar and smoke towards the finish that is drier finish than usual. A difficult Latour to warm to. Another wine that I will seek to taste closer to bottling. Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 08 April 2008
Offers floral and berry notes, with currant and licorice. Full-bodied, with a sweet core of fruit. There's silky tannins and a fresh, fruity finish. Reserved and balanced. Best after 2012. Score: 90 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 31 March 2010
Very pretty and refined, with wonderful, silky tannin texture and ripeness. Full and harmonious, with lots of fruit at the end. A reserved and subtle wine. Score: 89 - 92 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2008
The 2007 Latour (the first wine made in the newly renovated cellars) exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, expansive bouquet of black fruits and spring flowers interwoven with a striking minerality. The wine’s dense, medium to full-bodied flavors are surprisingly evolved, with soft tannins, an ample, generous mouthfeel, and an endearing texture. Undoubtedly one of the longest lived wines of the vintage, the 2007 Latour should last for two decades or more. 92+ points Score: 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2030 31 March 2010
Good full ruby-red. Fresh aromas of cassis, tobacco leaf, minerals, graphite and licorice. Sweet, dense and consistent from start to finish, with enticing flavors of dark berries and chocolate given good grip by firm but fine-grained, palate-saturating tannins. Very nicely balanced, supple wine with a rebound of flavor on the end. On the soft side by Latour standards but wonderfully suave. Score: 91 - 93 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 20 May 2008
Highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever. Round and smooth and quite powerful. Very modern and easy – “Peynaud school of extraction”, according to Frédéric Engerer. Not flashy! But a bit like malted milk. Very soft as opposed to the usual Latour style. Very round. Represents 2007 but not especially Latour (cf Las Cases) . "We really tried to muscle it up as much as we could”, said Engerer (they included 16% press wine, much more than usual). But it’s not that fresh. Well made but extremely unusual – a bit like 2003 by Bollinger in that respect. Perhaps it should be called ‘2007 by Latour’, come to think of it? Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2023 10 April 2008
Black-red, full of crunchy, spicy fruit, with great purity and length, not yet showing the power of its 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, still almost a baby and will gain weight and depth in barrel and bottle. Drink 2014-25. Score: 17 Decanter, - Maturity: 2014-2025 08 April 2008
Richly aromatic with liquorice and blackberry fruit, freshly turned soil and the barest hint of liqueur. Full-bodied with an absolutely flawless texture that flows across the palate. Moderate intensity of spicy fruit, less than previous vintages. Fresh and vibrant. Latour minus some of its customary power. Score: 91 - 94 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2008

Tasting Notes

The 2007 Latour was late-released last year, and I reviewed it at that time. This bottle reaffirmed my remarks from a few months ago albeit here within the context of all the other First Growth. I noticed that it has slightly more intensity than the Lafite-Rothschild, a touch of menthol infusing the black fruit, certainly more exotic than the Lafite or Mouton with that subtle hint of black olive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is good muscle and weight to this Latour, with impressive tension and energy on the saline finish. It will drink well over the next 15 years, possibly longer. Tasted February 2017.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2035 30 June 2017

The 2007 Latour is the most recent late-release from the First Growth estate that abandoned en primeur after the 2011 vintage. Incidentally, this was the first vintage that Frédéric Engerer made with cellar technical director, Hélène Génin. "It was not an easy wine when it was young," he remarked when pouring the wine. Nevertheless, as it approaches ten years of age, the 2007 is finally entering its drinking plateau. It has a deep, quite lucid, dark garnet color. The nose is fresh and well defined. What I appreciate here is the focus, since 2007 was never a vintage to bestow power or immense complexity. Here, you wallow in lovely aromas of blackberry, bilberry and briary with that hint of black olive that I noticed four years ago when I last tasted it. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It feels attractively saline, fresh and crisp, though not angular. Again, it is the focus and detail that enhances this vibrant Château Latour and its keen line of acidity lends it the freshness to become just about drinkable. The length is moderate, rather than extraordinarily long, though its pencil lead finish takes you straight to Pauillac thereby enhancing typicité. This is a fine Latour from an underrated vintage. Tasted July 2016.

Score: -

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2037 01 July 2016

The Latour 2007 includes 15% pressed wine, the most since 1999. Limpid purple/garnet core with pink rim. An attractive nose, thematically following the Les Forts de Latour with a certain femininity with an attractive brightness. Excellent delineation. Builds nicely in the glass when I return to it after ten minutes developing a slight briny note, almost oyster shell quality. The palate is full-bodied, firm robust tannins, not the fruit intensity of previous vintages, again a rather stripped down Latour but still with excellent balance and very focused. Graphite, cedar and smoke towards the finish that is drier finish than usual. A difficult Latour to warm to. Another wine that I will seek to taste closer to bottling.

Score: 90 - 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 08 April 2008

Offers floral and berry notes, with currant and licorice. Full-bodied, with a sweet core of fruit. There's silky tannins and a fresh, fruity finish. Reserved and balanced. Best after 2012.

Score: 90

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 31 March 2010

Very pretty and refined, with wonderful, silky tannin texture and ripeness. Full and harmonious, with lots of fruit at the end. A reserved and subtle wine.

Score: 89 - 92

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2008

The 2007 Latour (the first wine made in the newly renovated cellars) exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, expansive bouquet of black fruits and spring flowers interwoven with a striking minerality. The wine’s dense, medium to full-bodied flavors are surprisingly evolved, with soft tannins, an ample, generous mouthfeel, and an endearing texture. Undoubtedly one of the longest lived wines of the vintage, the 2007 Latour should last for two decades or more. 92+ points

Score: 92

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2030 31 March 2010

Good full ruby-red. Fresh aromas of cassis, tobacco leaf, minerals, graphite and licorice. Sweet, dense and consistent from start to finish, with enticing flavors of dark berries and chocolate given good grip by firm but fine-grained, palate-saturating tannins. Very nicely balanced, supple wine with a rebound of flavor on the end. On the soft side by Latour standards but wonderfully suave.

Score: 91 - 93

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 20 May 2008

Highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever. Round and smooth and quite powerful. Very modern and easy – “Peynaud school of extraction”, according to Frédéric Engerer. Not flashy! But a bit like malted milk. Very soft as opposed to the usual Latour style. Very round. Represents 2007 but not especially Latour (cf Las Cases) . "We really tried to muscle it up as much as we could”, said Engerer (they included 16% press wine, much more than usual). But it’s not that fresh. Well made but extremely unusual – a bit like 2003 by Bollinger in that respect. Perhaps it should be called ‘2007 by Latour’, come to think of it?

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2023 10 April 2008

Black-red, full of crunchy, spicy fruit, with great purity and length, not yet showing the power of its 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, still almost a baby and will gain weight and depth in barrel and bottle. Drink 2014-25.

Score: 17

Decanter, - Maturity: 2014-2025 08 April 2008

Richly aromatic with liquorice and blackberry fruit, freshly turned soil and the barest hint of liqueur. Full-bodied with an absolutely flawless texture that flows across the palate. Moderate intensity of spicy fruit, less than previous vintages. Fresh and vibrant. Latour minus some of its customary power.

Score: 91 - 94

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2008

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