Château LATOUR 2019
In Pauillac, Château Latour occupies around its famous Enclos one of the deepest and most consistent terroirs of the Médoc. First Grand Cru Classé in 1855, the estate benefits from thick gravel soils resting on clay horizons that allow the old vines to maintain remarkable water stability, even in hot years. Cabernet Sauvignon is the main axis of the vineyard and gives the wine its uprightness, depth, and ability to evolve over several decades. Merlot completes this structure with more flesh and suppleness, while very small proportions of other Bordeaux grape varieties may be included depending on the vintage. The parcel work is carried out with extreme precision, each lot being followed separately before a strict selection for the grand vin. The 2019 vintage combines maturity, concentration, and freshness in a particularly complete register. It gives birth to a Latour of great density, but whose power is always contained by the finesse of the tannic grain and the natural tension of the terroir.
Château Latour 2019 is built around a very strong majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, mainly complemented by Merlot. The Cabernet provides a vertical structure, deep black fruit, and a mineral framework that forms the backbone of the whole. Merlot strengthens the mid-palate texture and brings a more enveloping sensation without altering the decidedly Pauillac character of the wine. The grapes are vinified parcel by parcel to preserve the personality of each sector of the Enclos and its associated terroirs. Extractions are carried out with restraint, seeking precision rather than power, despite the natural concentration of the vintage. Aging in French oak barrels then gradually refines the tannins and allows the wine to gain cohesion. The 2019 has a still very young structure, but its balance, depth, and freshness suggest a particularly long evolution.
The color shows a very deep purple, almost opaque at the core, with still bright ruby reflections. The nose opens on blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry, accompanied by graphite, cedar, and violet. With aeration, blond tobacco, licorice, cocoa, and fine smoky nuances gradually appear, enhancing the complexity of the bouquet. The palate is dense and structured, but the tannic grain remains very fine, giving a sensation of depth without hardness. Cabernet Sauvignon impresses with remarkable length, while the freshness of the vintage maintains the whole in a very precise balance. The finish lingers long on black fruits, graphite, spices, and a persistent mineral dimension. Château Latour 2019 will accompany a beef filet with porcini mushrooms, a roasted rack of lamb, pigeon, royal hare, or refined cuisine around black truffle.
Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
