2018 Forts de Latour
By Chateau Latour
2018 Forts de Latour from Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The eminence of the Pauillac appellation has been bolstered once again with the impressive arrival of the 2018 Forts de Latour from Château Latour. This particular vintage stands as a testament to the fortitude and finesse inherent in this historic wine estate.
A Vintage Shaped by Nature's Challenges
Bordeaux's 2018 vintage was a narrative of two profoundly different tales — an initial battle against climatic adversity followed by an almost miraculous recovery, leading to a triumph for many estates including Château Latour. The diligent vignerons of this revered winery navigated through spring's tempestuous bouts with downy mildew only to be rewarded by a near-ideal summer that set a course for achieving remarkable concentration and balance in their grapes.
An Embodiment of Pauillac's Virtue
Within this liquid tapestry, the 2018 Forts de Latour expresses a luxurious array of dark fruits — cassis, blackberries, and plums take centre stage against an impeccable oak backdrop. It is the interplay of fresh acidity and velvety tannins that outlines the elegance so distinctive of Pauillac's terroir in the texture of this wine. There’s also a well-structured minerality present, evidencing the gravelly soils that are the bedrock of Chateau Latour’s vineyards. Subtle spice notes evolve on the palate, highlighting the precision exercised during its crafting.
A Confluence of Investment Worthiness and Drinking Delight
The 2018 Forts de Latour, while enchanting connoisseurs now, is poised for graceful ageing, ensuring its allure deepens with time. Its complexity coupled with a buoyant personality declares it to be one of those prudent acquisitions for astute collectors and investors alike. In Bordeaux’s 2018 chapter, this wine is undoubtedly a leading narrative thread, showcasing both the resilience and latent potential bestowed upon Pauillac's wines by this extraordinary vintage.
In summing up this magnificent 2018 offering from Forts de Latour, I find that it encapsulates the virtues of its lineage with contemporary flair; an investment-worthy vintage deeply sewn into the rich tapestry of Chateau Latour’s acclaimed legacy.
Market price (GBP)
N/A
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
N/A
Scores and tasting notes
A solid and steely red with lots of blackcurrant and blueberry character. Medium-to full-bodied and polished, fine tannins. Flavorful finish.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com - April 2019
The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is made up of 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot, with 14.2% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Deep purple-black in color, it needs a fair bit of coaxing to reveal slowly emerging notes of wild blueberries, crème de cassis, candied violets, cinnamon stick and fragrant soil with nuances of black tea, yeast extract and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, rich and densely packed with layer upon layer of earth and floral accents, it is framed by very firm, very ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing with a very long, very purely fruited finish.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 23rd April 2019
This is pretty serious and will take its time to come round with more evident austerity than many second wines in Pauillac in this vintage, no doubt a reflection of the high amount of tannins, but it’s clearly extremely good quality with real bite and attitude. It’s reflective of the estate’s first wine in 2018 for sure, and a whiff of 2010 about it, showing bounce and juice but just takes its time to come through.
Jane Anson - Decanter - April 2019
The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is a gorgeous wine, and also a big step up from the Pauillac. Dark cherry, plum, espresso, menthol, licorice, spice and grilled herbs all develop effortlessly. Rich and pliant, with notable textural depth, Forts de Latour expresses the essence of the vintage beautifully. The firm tannins need time to settle down, but that should not be an issue by the time Latour decides to release the wine.
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - April 2019