2005 Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac

With only 40% of the crop making it into the Grand Vin it is perhaps not surprising that this is, to put it mildly, a bit of alright. Old vines have helped give this wine real backbone to go with the intense, mouthwatering cassis fruit and pure minerality. The finish is quite incredible.  This is so good that you can also understand how the Wine Spectator's James Suckling marked it 95-100 points. Drink 2012-2020.

The 2005 Forts de Latour (10,000 cases produced) possesses much of the same character as Latour, but sweeter tannins, more obvious and forward fruit, medium to full body, and a more seductive, plusher style, but not the great stature, richness, and architectural precision of its bigger brother. Nevertheless, it is a gorgeous Pauillac that should drink well for two decades or more.

Latour is always the most difficult Medoc first-growth to find, largely because the vineyard and production are much smaller than its’ peers and because of the severe selection routinely done by owner Francois Pinault and administrator Frederic Engerer.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - 30-Apr-2008)
Robert Parker