Chateau Latour Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac 2007

Shows more red fruit than black with a hint of smoke, leather and game. The texture is lively and fresh. It is somewhat shorter than Latour can be, but not overly so. This is one to drink while waiting for other recent vintages to open up. The overcast, lukewarm weather in 2007 delivered a wine with less intensity and power than other recent vintages, but one that drinks agreeably well at this earlier stage. Merlot was picked beginning 21st September and the Cabernets from 4th October.

Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits' 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 Latour was late-released last year, and I reviewed it at that time. This bottle reaffirmed my remarks from a few months ago albeit here within the context of all the other First Growth. I noticed that it has slightly more intensity than the Lafite-Rothschild, a touch of menthol infusing the black fruit, certainly more exotic than the Lafite or Mouton with that subtle hint of black olive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is good muscle and weight to this Latour, with impressive tension and energy on the saline finish. It will drink well over the next 15 years, possibly longer. Tasted February 2017.

Good bright ruby-red. Rather backward nose hints at cassis, black cherry, shoe polish, graphite, minerals and spices. Sweet, broad and rich, but with enticing fresh minerality giving energy to the rather full-bodied middle palate. The wine's cassis fruit is complicated by an almost decadent floral element. Finishes perfumed and very long, with wonderfully lush, supple, fine-grained tannins.