Forts de Latour Pauillac 1999

Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 1999

Grapes: 20-30% Merlot, the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, oaked

The wine is aged in 50% new oak barrels for 18 months on average.  Today, production is close to 10,000 cases per year of the Grand Vin which represents about 37% of the production.

Château Latour is a French wine estate, rated as a First Growth under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Latour lies at the very south-eastern tip of the commune of Pauillac in the Médoc region to the north-west of Bordeaux, at its border with Saint-Julien, and only a few hundred metres from the banks of the Gironde estuary.

The estate produces three red wines in all. In addition to its Grand vin, Latour has also produced the second wine Les Forts de Latour since 1966, and a third wine, simply named Pauillac, has been released every year since 1990.

Les Forts de Latour is produced from the “young vines” of the “Grand Enclos”, which are less than 12 years old as well as from grapes grown on three plots situated outside the “Grand Enclos”. In addition, and depending on the quality of the vintage, certain vats of Grand Vin may not, after numerous tastings, be up to the standards required. They may then be demoted to ”Les Forts de Latour“.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Latour has long produced one of Bordeaux's greatest second wines. The beautiful, pure, deep purple-colored 1999 Forts de Latour reveals sweet, cedary, cassis scents, medium to full body, ripe tannin, and a long finish. It should drink well for 15+ years."

90/100 points, Robert M. Parker Jr., WINE ADVOCATE, April 2002

"Dark crimson. Exciting evolution that reminds me a little of the bouquet of Domaine de Chevalier and Smith Haut Lafitte in terms of its minerality. Now this is pretty classy wine. I want to swallow it! Great balance and succulence and just ready to drink now, yet obviously with lots of potential."

17.5/20 points, Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com, September 2009