Chateau Latour - Pauillac, France 2012
Price: $699.99
Producer | Chateau Latour |
Country | France |
Region | Bordeaux |
Subregion | Pauillac |
Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon -Merlot |
Vintage | 2012 |
Sku | 31636 |
Chateau Latour Description
2012 was rather a late year, marked by spring rainfalls and followed by an extended dry period towards the end of the season. There was substantially less rain than usual during the five winter months and the temperatures were mild except for the extremely cold first half of February. Budbreak was noted on April 3rd, which was otherwise a particularly wet month. A rainy and mild June encouraged the propagation of diseases throughout the vineyard. Fortunately, in July and onwards into August, the weather became very dry and the mid-veraison was noted on August 14th. These dry and moderately hot weather conditions ensured a slow ripening which was beneficial for acidity levels. However, it was noticeable on some plots susceptible to hydric stress that the vine had suffered from the heat.
The harvests took place from September 24th to October 16th under heavy rain, resulting in a high localised risk of botrytis on the Merlot. Nevertheless, the vintage remained in excellent health.
The colour is dark with a beautiful intensity.The nose is fruity, refined, ripe and extremely expressive. On the palate, the wine is rounded and smooth, spicy and very aromatic. It evolves pleasurably towards a delicious finale with fine tannins.
Decanter Magazine: 97 Points
This will be by far the biggest release since Latour brought in the new system, as the 2012 has not been on the market before. It's a good one to start with as this is a vintage where the drinking window is starting to come into view. This is pure liquorice, graphite and profoundly dark fruits, gourmet brushed damson and crushed stones, with a silky, appealingly open texture. The tannins are as bracing as you hope for from this estate, not giving an inch yet, but there is air between them and the structure is starting to loosen up. Harvest from September 24 to October 16, under rainy conditions after a super hot summer and early September that ensured the grapes stayed in good condition, but turned the concentration from impenetrable to an altogether more approachable style.
Wine Advocate: 96 Points
Medium to deep garnet colored, the nose slowly, measuredly emerges with notions of preserved Morello cherries, baked blackcurrants and blackberry compote, giving way to nuances of pencil shavings, unsmoked cigars, Chinese five spice and sandalwood plus ever so subtle hints of cardamom and eucalyptus. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit preserves with a firm, grainy-textured frame and fantastic freshness, finishing with a veritable firework display of lingering spices and minerals. This is a more restrained, relatively elegant vintage of Latour that may not have that “iron fist in a velvet glove” power of the greatest vintages but nonetheless struts its superior terroir and behind-the-scenes savoir faire with impressive panache. It is drinking nicely now with suitably rounded-off, approachable tannins, and the tertiary characters are just beginning to bring some more cerebral elements into the compote of temptingly primary black fruits. But, if you’re looking to drink it in full, flamboyant swing, give it another 5-10 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20-25 years+.
Wine Spectator: 95 Points
This features a terrific, gorgeously delineated graphite note that runs from start to finish, letting the dark plum, black cherry and cassis fruit play out beautifully. Shows a lovely backdrop of charcoal and iron on the finish. Ever so slightly rigid, with a strong graphite expression, this is straight rather than expansive in feel, but seriously long nonetheless.