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1999 Forts de Latour
By Chateau Latour
1999 Forts de Latour from Chateau Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 1999 Forts de Latour from the venerable Chateau Latour possesses a finesse quite distinctive when nestled amidst the estate's lineage of grand vintages. The harvest of that year, contrary to the more opulent '98 or the storied '00, articulates a subtler facet of the Pauillac terroir. One might surmise it as a study in understated elegance.
An Uncommon Vintage Beckoning Connoisseurship
As an intrinsic second wine of Chateau Latour, one must appreciate how the 1999 vintage stands quite singularly on its own merits. It was a period marked by variable weather patterns, bringing forth a selection where precision in viticulture was paramount. Consequently, the resulting wine encapsulates a dexterity of craftsmanship that cajoles its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend into an articulate expression of the year's challenges.
A Tasting Odyssey through Time
Layered with nuanced aromas of earthy truffles and ripe blackcurrants, this iteration gently whispers rather than shouts its presence in the glass. The sensory journey proceeds with an unanticipated vibrancy on the palate. Vivid acidity gives verve to mature notes of tobacco and leather, a testament to its age, while still maintaining a firm grip indicative of its noble heritage.
Celebrated amongst fine wine investors and collectors alike, this 1999 Forts de Latour presents not merely as an asset but as an artefact reflecting both the character of Pauillac's terroir and the adaptability inherent within Chateau Latour's winemaking narrative.
Embarking on its third decade, this vintage remains admirably spry. Its enduring structure assures continued evolution for those patient investors who appreciate both historical substance and aesthetic potential in their portfolio.
As I reflect upon this profound vintage, I perceive it not simply as another noteworthy entry from Chateau Latour but as a discerning curator's touchstone – revealing grace in restraint and rewarding those who savour the virtue in subtlety.
Market price (CAD)
$2,880.00
12x75cl
Highest score
90
POP score
173
Scores and tasting notes
Latour has long produced one of Bordeaux's greatest second wines. The beautiful, pure, deep purple-colored 1999 Forts de Latour reveals sweet, cedary, cassis scents, medium to full body, ripe tannin, and a long finish. It should drink well for 15+ years.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2002
Tasted at the 1999 horizontal at Bordeaux Index. A deep garnet core. The bouquet is foursquare, straight-laced, a little white pepper, tertiary with a hint of sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied, cedar-infused fruit on the entry, touches of iodine, bilberry, quite sharp and edgy towards the finish, without the precocity of more recent vintages. Drink now-2012. Tasted June 2009.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2009