Latour 1995

A beauty, the opaque dense purple-colored 1995 exhibits jammy cassis, vanillin, and minerals in its fragrant but still youthful aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with exceptional purity, superb concentration, and a long, intense, ripe, 40-second finish, this is a magnificent example of Latour. As the wine sat in the glass, scents of roasted espresso and toasty new oak emerged. This classic will require considerable cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.

This is more open-knit on the nose compared to the 1996. Red fruits rather than black, touches of thyme and bacon fat, then smoke and embers. The palate is fleshy on the entry with grainy tannins, moderate weight though without the backbone and ambition of the following vintage. What is lacks in power, in makes up with elegance, very fine tannins towards the finish, but rather overawed by thte ’96. Drink now-2020. Tasted June 2009.