2008 Château Latour Premier Grand Cru Classé

Austere yet elegant, this 1st growth Bordeaux showcases subtle dark fruits balanced with tobacco, chocolate, and spice, making it a gem for special occasions.

Producer

Château Latour

Region

Pauillac, Medoc, Bordeaux

Country

France

Varietal

Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal Composition

94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, .75% Cabernet Franc, and .25% Petit Verdot

Specifications

2008

Vintage

2042

Drink By

ABV

Vinification

Organically farmed grapes go through primary and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel vats before aging in 100% new French oak barrels

Occasional wine note

This is one of the 4 1st growth red wines from Napoleon III's Classification of 1855. The others are also very recognizable - Châteaus Lafite Rothschild, Haut-Brion, Margaux, with Château Mouton-Rothschild being added to the list in 1973. These Left Bank Bordeauxs are a lot more austere than the Napa Valley versions with which most Americans are so familiar. The focus is on all of the components of the wine, the terroir - the soils, vines, fruit, etc. This one is no different. You'll want to open this up for awhile before drinking, but when it is open, it's a gem. The dark fruits are there, but more subtle than anticipated, really balanced by the tobacco and chocolate and spice notes and flavors. This is a taught but elegant wine. It deserves a place of prominence in your cellar only to be brought out for those really really really special occasions.

What experts say about this wine

100

Decanter

This takes a heartbeat to kick in, and then the weight and impact of this wine slowly kicks in. Those Cabernets have lift and punch, and although it's not ethereal like the Ausone or even the Lafite, it has power, structure, impact and kick, and you know it's going the distance. It has really lovely menthol notes which play around on the finish, preceded by layers of cassis and liquorice. It's more accessible than many Latours at 10 years old - just give it another couple of years to fully get into its stride.

100

Jeb Dunnuck

The brilliant 2008 Château Latour has the classic stature and regal style of the estate front and center. A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, it’s still purple-colored and brilliantly concentrated, offering medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, tobacco, lead pencil, and graphite. Dense, perfectly balanced, with ripe tannins, it’s a few years away from prime time (although it certainly offers pleasure) but will drink well for another 2-3 decades.

pairing recommendation