Forts de Latour 1996

Tasted at an off-line lunch at The Ledbury. A completely different bottle to the one in September 2006. A very deep black/purple colour. At thirteen years of age, it is evolving a lovely cedar, tobacco bouquet with touches of cooked meat, bilberry and a slight salty tang. The palate is full-bodied but with fine tannins, firm backbone, a little furry towards the masculine finish that suggests this Les Forts needs a few more years in bottle. Impressive young sibling to the Grand Vin. Drink 2014-2025. Tasted October 2009.

The dense ruby/purple-colored 1996 Les Forts de Latour is exceedingly tannic, with cassis and mushroom-like notes in the aromatics. This full-bodied wine is impressively constituted and one of the finest Forts de Latours of the last two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2018.