LES FORTS DE LATOUR PAUILLAC 2017 750ml

ABOUT THE WINE

Les Forts de Latour is the second wine of Château Latour, a First Growth (Premier Cru Classé) estate in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux’s Médoc region. Introduced in 1966, it’s one of the most prestigious second wines in Bordeaux, often rivaling the quality of many châteaux’s grand vins. Unlike the grand vin (Château Latour), which comes exclusively from the L’Enclos vineyard, Les Forts de Latour draws from a broader selection of estate grapes, offering a more approachable yet still age-worthy expression of the Latour style. The 2017 Les Forts de Latour is a blend of 65.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 0.8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. This mix balances Cabernet’s structure with Merlot’s softness, with tiny contributions from the other varieties adding complexity.

TASTING NOTE:

The 2017 Les Forts de Latour is a refined, approachable wine that captures the vintage’s charm and the estate’s consistency, ideal for both current drinking and future cellaring. Deep ruby with a slight garnet edge. Elegant and aromatic, with blackberry, cassis, and red cherry, accented by graphite, spice (cedar, anise), violets, and a subtle earthy or mineral note. Some detect a faint marine influence. Medium-bodied, with a sleek, precise structure. It features ripe, fine-grained tannins, lively acidity, and concentrated fruit, offering a core of dark berries with savory graphite and floral hints. The finish is long, crisp, and slightly grippy, with a mineral undertone that suggests further evolution. Drinkable now with decanting, it’s poised to age well for 15–25 years (through 2035–2040), gaining nuance over time.