Les Forts de Latour 1982
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Here is an example of why a second wine is well worth buying in a great vintage. Unfortunately, I do not have any of the 1990, and I couldn’t find any to purchase, but I bought plenty of the 1982, although I never dreamed it would be drinking so great at age 27. Much lighter around the edge than its bigger sibling, it exhibits an explosive nose of charcoal, black fruits, herbs, and soil undertones. Full-bodied and fleshy with no hard edges (which is exactly the way it performed over the last 10-15 years), it probably should be consumed over the next 4-5 years. However, given the fact that it has aged so beautifully for so long, it may last even longer.
-
Wine Spectator
What a wine. Dark ruby color, with a hint of garnet. Ripe berry, with a hint of raisin, licorice and spice. Full-bodied and very concentrated, with velvety tannins and a long, ripe fruit finish.
Other Vintages
2017-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine - Vinous
- Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spirits
Wine & -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
The leader on the Left Bank in number of first growth classified producers within its boundaries, Pauillac has more than any of the other appellations, at three of the five. Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild border St. Estephe on its northern end and Chateau Latour is at Pauillac’s southern end, bordering St. Julien.
While the first growths are certainly some of the better producers of the Left Bank, today they often compete with some of the “lower ranked” producers (second, third, fourth, fifth growth) in quality and value. The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification that goes back to 1855. The finest chateaux in that year were judged on the basis of reputation and trading price; changes in rank since then have been miniscule at best. Today producers such as Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Grand Puy-Lacoste, Chateau Lynch-Bages, among others (all fifth growth) offer some of the most outstanding wines in all of Bordeaux.
Defining characteristics of fine wines from Pauillac (i.e. Cabernet-based Bordeaux Blends) include inky and juicy blackcurrant, cedar or cigar box and plush or chalky tannins.
Layers of gravel in the Pauillac region are key to its wines’ character and quality. The layers offer excellent drainage in the relatively flat topography of the region allowing water to run off into “jalles” or streams, which subsequently flow off into the Gironde.