Description

Released from the Chateau where it has been stored in their cellars since bottling, we are thrilled to offer this piece of Bordeaux wine history, directly from the Chateau, to your glass. With 2016 rated 'Exceptionel' by the Chateau, and widely considered the finest Bordeaux vintage since 2010, this has been a highly anticipated release.

Beautiful dark and intense colour with a crimson hue. Aromatically very pure and enticing with ripe red and black fruits, delicious cocoa and tobacco notes and a hint of citrus zest. Succulent on the attack with a powerful mouthfeel and great tension mid-palate that leads to a lingering, languorous finish.

While Les Forts is often referred to as the second wine of Latour, this is not really accurate. The wine is blended from separate parcels, many of which include older vines. These are then augmented with wine from vats that were not included in the final blend of the Grand Vin. Grapes from younger vines (which many producers use for their second wines) go into the third wine, Les Pauillac de Chateau Latour.

2016 assemblage: 64.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.3% Merlot. 0.4% Cabernet Franc.

"A stunning second wine from Château Latour, as you’d expect in a top vintage like 2016, this is remarkably perfumed for such a young red, with notes of violets and dark berry fruit, liquorice and cinnamon. Poised, balanced and structured, with real class. 2026-34"                                                                                                                             95 Points. Tim Atkin, MW (April, 2017)

"The fresh currant and violet aromas are so complex and beautiful on the nose. Full body, ultra-refined tannins and lovely tannin tension. Shows focus and such finesse. Beautiful finish. Try after 2024"
96 Points James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (February 2019)

“Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Les Forts de Latour opens with cinnamon stick, cloves and star anise scents with hints of crème de cassis, kirsch, wild blueberries and hints of black tea and violets. Medium to full-bodied, it has very firm, grainy tannins and is wonderfully intense with layers of bright fruit and loads of red berry sparks, finishing long and minerally. This is a superb showing for Les Forts and I would not be at all surprised if it far exceeds my conservative drinking window estimation! "
95/100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (May 2020)