2009 Chateau Latour Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac

Chateau Latour Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2009

Region: Bordeaux, Pauillac

One of the original 1st Growths in 1855, Latour's reputation for making consistently outstanding wine continues to this day. The consistency of its wines can, to an extent, be attributed to the fact that, since 1670, the estate has only ever had 3 owners. Originally acquired by the Segur family, Latour remained in the hands of their heirs until 1963 when the estate came under British ownership with acclaimed wine writers Hugh Johnson and Harry Waugh serving as advisors. Since 1993, the estate has been under the ownership of Francois Pinault, a lifelong fan of the wines of Latour who, since taking charge, has overseen a string of incredible vintages. Since Pinault took the helm, Latour has been characterised by extraordinary levels of concentration, richness, and structure. Most significantly, following the 2011 vintage Latour opted out of the traditional En Primeur system with the intention of cellaring their wines themselves and only releasing each vintage as and when they believe it is ready. Hence the reason you will find fewer recent vintages of Latour offered than the other leading Bordeaux properties.

Tasting Notes and Scores

99 DR

This is still closed, although a softening of the tannins is apparent. It has a gorgeous nose full of Pauillac power and finesse, with brambled fruits and touches of hedgerow as the Cabernet Sauvignon count heads upwards. The fresh core is clear from start to finish, giving that high-wire feeling that makes great Médocs so thrilling. There's a sense of drama to the cassis fruits, controlled but with impact and a sense of purpose, leading to a chewy finish. This is barely bedded down and has the shoulders and backbone to carry it for years. Don't approach it yet. Drinking Window 2024 - 2046
Tasted by Jane Anson (at BI Wine's 10 Years On Tasting, London, 07 Feb 2019)
Part of The September releases from Italy and France

Decanter

99 NM

The 2009 Latour is endowed with a simply magnificent nose with intense blackberry and cassis fruit laced with minerals and graphite, extremely focused to the point of overwhelming the sense. Wow. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, multilayered black fruit infused with crushed stone and a hint of white pepper, though it clams up towards the finish as if to say, not yet. Outstanding. This is Latour firing on all cylinders. - vinous.com, March 2019

Neal Martin

983 WL

Quality 987 | Brand 998 | Economics 950 | buzz brand
Quality: Predicted life of 19 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group, which averages 9 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 52 of the world's top wine lists, including Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen Economics: #2 most active wine at auction, its top 5 vintages having seen 4,896 75cl equivalent bottles traded in the past year Production: Lower production than its peer group average of 151,058 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Wine Lister

20 MS

[91.3CS/8.7M] Very mineral, very dense on the nose; rich, ample, broad shouldered, yet so finely cut, with a superfine tannin of wonderful texture and a fresh acidity; luxuriously compact wine; the classic 'dry yet fully ripe' flavours of the best claret, packed with mineral aromas, deep, ripe, black fruit sweet, baritone sonorous, an essence of Pauillac, but without a hint of excess. Long and resonant, with both fruit and aromas effortlessly saturating the palate - such a light touch for such power - plush and fine, density without force, a remarkable, persistent inner energy, and terrific length. A perfect, effortlessly harmonious performance, a very great Latour. More density and matter than 82 for example. Magnificent, a clear candidate for perfection. 2022-50

Michael Schuster

19 JR

Tasted blind. Lustrous deep crimson. Sweet yet refined. Recalls juggling or tightrope-walking with its mixture of ripeness and freshness. Dry finish on wonderfully precise sweet fruit. Still very youthful. Clean. Highest average score ever! 19.24 because of five 20/20s.

Jancis Robinson

100 RP

100pts - Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Latour is unashamedly youthful with bold blackcurrants, black cherries and warm plums notes plus nuances of cedar chest, aniseed, beef drippings, truffles and tapenade with a waft of tilled black soil. Full, concentrated and powerful in the mouth, it has a rock-solid frame of super ripe, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully minerally. Just a baby—this needs time! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, March 2019

100pts - A blend of 91.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.7% Merlot with just under 14% natural alcohol, the 2009 Latour is basically a clone of the super 2003, only more structured and potentially more massive and long lived. An elixir of momentous proportions, it boasts a dense purple color as well as an extraordinarily flamboyant bouquet of black fruits, graphite, crushed rocks, subtle oak and a notion of wet steel. It hits the palate with a thundering concoction of thick, juicy blue and black fruits, lead pencil shavings and a chalky minerality. Full-bodied, but very fresh with a finish that lasts over a minute, this is one of the most remarkable young wines I have ever tasted. Will it last one-hundred years? No doubt about it. Can it be drunk in a decade? For sure.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #199, Feb 2012)

Wine Advocate

100 JS

Dark and chocolatey with a lot of richness, but also a cool herbal freshness this is a very impressive Medoc wine that's already delicious to drink. Very long, surprisingly supple finish for this château. A perfect wine. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019) - Stuart Pigott, jamessuckling.com, March 2019

James Suckling

Chateau Latour Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac