Chateau Latour 1994 Premier Grand Cru Classe 3 liters magnum
Chateau Latour 1994 Premier Grand Cru Classe
3 liters magnum
Robert Parker
This is an interesting as well as great vintage for Latour. As indicated in my barrel tasting report, Latour's 1994 possesses an atypically high percentage of Merlot (27%) in the final blend. Because of this, the wine appears to have a sweeter, more fleshy texture than is typical for a young Latour, but do not make the mistake of thinking this will be a commercially-styled, easy to drink wine. It exhibits an opaque dark ruby/purple color, and a backward, intense textbook nose of walnut and cassis scents complemented by smoky pain grille notes that build in the glass. This full-bodied, powerful, layered Latour reveals high tannin, but no bitterness or astringency. The superb purity, fabulous precision, and remarkable length should ensure 35-40 years of longevity. Readers will find more fat, flesh, and glycerin than usual for a young Latour (save for such great vintages as 1982 and 1990), but don't be deceived, this wine requires 8-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2035.
Chateau Latour creates some of the greatest and most extravagant Bordeaux wines. The castle dates back to the 14th century, when the original tower, after which the castle is named, was built on the property by Gaucelme de Castillon during the Hundred Years' War. The old Pauillac estate is among the four in the Medoc that were ranked in the top Premier Cru Classe when Napoleon and his officials drew up a classification leading up to the World Exhibition of 1855. Since 1993, the château has been owned by French billionaire François Pinault, who bought the wine castle for no less than DKK 890 million.
78 hectares of vineyards are surrounded by Château Latour which has an extraordinary terroir consisting of deep gravel and clay covered with relatively large rounded stones. The vineyards are planted with 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
In recent times, the Château Latour team has begun to reflect more on methods of viticulture, and the balance between the wine, the soil and the environment. Thus, there has been a showdown with the post-war penchant for mists of dubious pesticides against weeds, pests and plant diseases. Since 2015, the entire Château Latour vineyard has been organically farmed, and horses help with the plowing and natural fertiliser.