Château Latour - Pauillac 2005 (Magnum)

First Growth Château Latour, a legendary estate in Pauillac, has long stood as a beacon of viticultural brilliance in the Left Bank's Médoc region. The estate's rich history is deeply intertwined with the local heritage, which is elegantly symbolized on the château's label featuring a solitary edifice. The iconic dovecote tower depicted on the label was erected on the property in the 1620s, paying homage to the 14th-century defensive tower, La Tour de Saint-Lambert, which once stood guard over the Gironde Estuary during the tumultuous Hundred Years’ War. 
The estate's lineage of success is nearly as old as its iconic tower, dating back to the 17th century under the ownership of the esteemed Ségur family. The Ségurs eventually came to possess three of Bordeaux's five First Growths, including Château Lafite-Rothschild and Château Mouton-Rothschild. However, even before the 1855 Classification formally recognized these titles, Château Latour had already solidified its position among the region's elite, thanks to its powerful and distinctive wine style.

The meticulous winemaking process at Chateau Latour underpins its consistent quality improvement. Technical Director Frederic Engerer, in charge since 1995, has instituted a rigorous selection process, ensuring only the finest fruit from the best site is used. Grapes are vinified with precision, accounting for variety, parcel, and vine age. The grand vin matures in 100% new oak, while Les Forts de Latour ages in 50% new oak.

"A very complex nose of lavender, currants, spices, and hot stones. Full and dense on the palate, with a very tight structure. The tannins have a perfect polish to their density, and the finish is very intense, with wonderful fruit and truffle character. This turns almost decadent, with tremendous energy and a constantly changing profile. This is a very challenging wine to get to know, please leave this for at least ten years." - 100 Points, James Suckling

"The 2005 Latour is made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it gallops out of the glass with incredibly youthful, powerful creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves scents, followed by wafts of violets, licorice, eucalyptus, and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, super-concentrated, and energetic in the mouth, it has a rock-solid structure of firm, beautifully ripe tannins and so many layers, finishing on a long, lingering anise note. While it is beautifully open and expressive at the moment, it remains incredibly primary and therefore could be a disappointment for those seeking a more evolved, tertiary experience. I would give it another 5-7 years in bottle, at least, knowing this will likely cellar to 2070 and beyond." - 100 Points, Wine Independent

"The 2005 Château Latour is about as classic Latour as it gets and has the vintages (and Chateau’s) dense, powerful, massively concentrated style. Darker currants, scorched earth, leather, bloody meats, and green tobacco all define this incredible Pauillac and it’s full-bodied, has a massive mid-palate, both ample tannins and acidity, and a great finish. Based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, it clearly offers pleasure today but I’d nevertheless give bottles another 4-6 years if possible. It’s will probably see it’s 100th birthday in fine form. It’s unquestionably in the same league as the 1982, 1990, and 2009." - 99 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Producer: Château Latour

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Appellation: Pauillac

Vintage: 2005

Size: 1.5L