Chateau Latour   Latour

2012 Latour

By Chateau Latour

2012 Latour from Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux

One invariably approaches a vintage of Pauillac with an anticipatory blend of reverence and curiosity, particularly when the bottle in question is the illustrious 2012 Latour from Château Latour. This year, encapsulated within each exquisitely crafted bottle, tells a story of a region's resilience and a winemaker's finesse.

 

A Challenging Year with Triumphs

The 2012 vintage came off the back of tricky climatic conditions, yet it exemplifies how skilled viticulture and precise winemaking can transcend adversity. With a late blossom followed by a dry summer, the grapes matured under the watchful eyes of Château Latour's devoted team, ushering in a harvest that makes savvy investors take note. The result is a wine that strikes one’s palate with poise and complexity worthy of its storied terroir.

 

An Investment Worth Cellaring

Navigating through the 2012 Latour, one finds an intricate mosaic of rich blackcurrant essence intertwined with nuanced graphite – no doubt a nod to the château's gravelly soils. Evident tannins suggest promise for longevity; this is unquestionably one for the cellar. For connoisseurs and investors alike, its blossoming bouquet and robust structure are demonstrations of Pauillac at its most intellectual – a cerebral vintage befitting of methodical maturation.

In your glass, the 2012 Latour upholds Château Latour's reputation for crafting sumptuous wines that appeal not only to one's palate but also to one's portfolio. Among its contemporaries, it stands out as an example of what can be achieved in less-celebrated years by truly iconic estates.

 

Summation: A Marquee Pauillac

To savour the 2012 Latour is to engage with an enduring dialogue between fruit and terroir. It presents itself as a vintage that speaks volumes about the meticulous stewardship it received at every stage – from vine to vat to vessel. In investing terms, this Charismatic Pauillac represents not just a delectable indulgence but also an astute addition to one's collection; it promises growth in value as it gracefully ages. Reflective of both its lineage and provenance, the 2012 Latour from Château Latour is a paragon of Bordeaux blends to be treasured and anticipated in equal measure.

Market price (HKD)

HK$40,130.00

12x75cl

Highest score

96

POP score

262.5

Scores and tasting notes

96

The 2012 Latour is a blend of 90.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.6% Merlot and 0.2% Petit Verdot. 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+.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 5 March 2020

Vintage performance