2006 Ch. Latour, Pauillac

Ch. Latour 2006 is the wine of the vintage. The pure, dark chocolate and cassis nose is followed by a palate of enormous intensity with lashings of cool blackberries and cream, minerals, cedar and coffee. The length of the finish is astonishing too - as if the wine is still in your mouth. Engerer says he did not aim for power in 2006 but a classical richness and lively minerality - the result is similar in style to the 'intellectual' 2005 'at the crossroads of elegance and refinement and power and richness'. He's right; it's very nearly as good too.

The 2006 Latour performed even better from bottle than from barrel... From barrel, I thought it was a modern day version of the 1996 or 1986, and certainly the 1996 comparison still holds. I thought it was somewhat austere from barrel, but that is no longer an issue. This is a beautifully rich Chateau Latour boasting a dense ruby/purple color, a sweet, smoky, charcoal, cassis, graphite, and forest floor-scented nose, full body, an attractive freshness, and sweet, noble tannins. This layered Latour is one of the vintage-s top dozen or so wines. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Feb-2009)