2011 Latour
By Chateau Latour
2011 Latour from Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 2011 vintage of Bordeaux presented a mosaic of challenges and triumphs, differentiated distinctly by savoir-faire and steadfast vineyard management. The 2011 Latour from Château Latour—a paragon among its peers—continues to enchant the cultivated palates of fine wine investors and aficionados alike.
The Testament of Terroir and Technique
In a year where climatic capriciousness could have undermined lesser estates, the deft capabilities at Château Latour prevailed to produce a wine of singular finesse. Encapsulating the essence of Pauillac's lush gravels, the 2011 Latour unfurls with a poise that belies the vintage's variable nature.
A Profoundly Structured Elegance
Upon approach, one is greeted by an opulent bouquet brimming with blackcurrant, laced with cedar and punctuated by violets—a heralding of the complex tapestry to follow on the palate. With an assured texture that interweaves tannic backbone with veluté smoothness, this embodiment offerings reflection of terroir with contemporary sensibilities guiding its vinification processes.
The palate is graced with layers unraveling like a narrative thread—from dark fruit depths to an ephemeral spice glimmer—culminating in an enduring finish that resonates with a scholar's articulation. It is a ledger of the year's erratic climate, interpreted through expert touch.
As a wine investment, the 2011 Latour rises as a beacon of resilience and elegance. Amidst oscillations in Bordeaux's atmospheric whimsy, this epitome from Château Latour chronicles not just a year, but a tradition of agile adaptation and artistry.
A Vintage Worthy of Connoisseur Attention
Thus, for collectors seeking to bolster their portfolios or palates desiring revelation, the 2011 Latour is an acquisition imbued with narrative depth and palpable craft. One uncorks not just a bottle but an anthology of the climatic saga that was 2011—interpreted by one of Pauillac's most revered estates. An investment in such a bottle is to partake in a story of triumph over adversity; it is to sip legend.
Current market price
£4,290.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
286
Scores and tasting notes
The nose is complex, featuring smoke, meat and hints of wood, with currants, olives and berries underneath. Full body with super-velvety tannins. The strong acidity gives the wine an edginess. Love the spicy, subtly fruity finish. Steely. Try in 2020.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, January 28th 2014
The Grand Vin is a blend of 84.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, representing 34% of the crop. The nose demands coaxing from the glass with introspective dark berry fruit, mineral, graphite and just a hint of cedar. The palate is classic Latour with tensile tannins in the driving seat and the fruit residing in the passenger. It has finely tuned acidity that lends it freshness and tension. There is superb minerality towards the finish but it retains that strictness and focus without blinking. If you love Latour, you will love the 2011. Tasted April 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2012
A blend of 84.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, the 2011 Latour represents only 34% of the crop. It hit 13.1% natural alcohol. One of the vintage's most compelling wines, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, open-knit personality with ripe tannin, superb intensity, good purity and harmony, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and lots of crushed rock, floral and black as well as blue fruit notes in addition to hints of ink and forest floor. This beautifully rich, savory Latour will be surprisingly drinkable in 4-5 years, and should age easily for two decades or more. By the way, Latour harvested relatively late for the Medoc, beginning the harvest on September 12 and finishing on September 26.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 25 April 2012