Medium-deep brick colored with notes of leather, tobacco, soy, sandalwood, figs and dried berries. Medium bodied and crisp in the mouth with a medium level of velvety tannins, it is fully mature with a long spicy finish. (LPB)

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.

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.

A deep garnet/mahogany core with wide tawny rim. The palate is conservative and lacking a little vigor compared to the last bottle I encountered. Roasted chestnuts, leather and spice. The palate is tannic and masculine, lacking a little cohesion, verging on chunky. Very classic in style with notes of damp earth, leather, pencil-lead and smoke. This would taste far better with food but it seems to have declined since its last outing. Drink soon. Tasted December 2006.

This double magnum had been accessed by a Coravin 10 days before this tasting and the cork fell into the wine so the bottle had to be re-stoppered. This may not have helped the wine… Wonderful combination of oyster-shells aroma and lovely rich, fully evolved, complex fruit that is recognisably Ch Latour. The tannins have disappeared. Long, layered. Really mature, even in the big bottle. My favourite wine of this tasting, though I'm sure it would have shown even better had the bottle been freshly opened. (JR)