Chateau Latour 1985

robert_parker87

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Somewhat weak when considered in the context of what Latour is capable of achieving, the 1985 is medium-bodied, has a good but not dense ruby color, a moderately intense berry fragrance, fine depth and length, but is surprisingly light and accessible for the style of this estate. Anticipated maturity: Now-2008. Last tasted, 1/93

robert_parker88

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

This wine was tasted from my personal collection, following the Latour tasting. The 1985 Latour is a soft, open-knit example, without much structure, delineation, and depth. The dark ruby color displays amber at the edge. The bouquet of tobacco, black fruits, herbs, earth, and new oak is pleasant, but neither intense nor persistent. The wine is medium-bodied, with sweet fruit on the attack, but it narrows out to reveal dry tannin and herbaceous notes. Anticipated maturity: now-2012.

robert_parker90

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Last Tasted 6/92 This is the best showing yet of the 1985 Latour, a wine that I have consistently rated in the mid to upper eighties. Most tastings of it have revealed a light, precocious style of Latour. At two tastings this summer, the wine was considerably richer and fuller. While surprisingly evolved and soft, it appears to possess more body and depth than I initially projected. It is an outstanding wine, with deep color, soft tannins, and plenty of the classic mineral, cassis, walnut-like fragrance that characterizes many vintages of Latour. Approachable now, the wine should reach its plateau of maturity by the mid-nineties and last through the first decade or more of the next century.

robert_parker90

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted from magnum at the Claret Club -85 Dinner at -The Square-. Contrasted against the other First Growths for the fourth or fifth time in my career, the Latour still brings up the rear but having said that, this is definitely the best bottle I have encountered. It has a little more vivacity on the nose that previously, with a touch of Provencal herbs and even a faint notes of peppermint. Certainly fresher than I was expecting and you might almost mistake it for Haut-Brion! The palate is medium-bodied, certainly not as complex as Mouton or Lafite with a foursquare, slightly curmudgeonly finish. Drink now-2016. Tasted December 2009.

robert_parker88

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at Roberson’s in London. Once again, compared to the other First Growth 1985s this is an uninspiring Latour. The bouquet has less vigour than the other with dried herbs, thyme, a touch of leather and undergrowth, but certainly lacking any complexity or conviction. The palate is medium-bodied, harmonious but lacking depth and persistency. Where is the backbone? Rather flat on the dry, meaty finish. If you had it blind, you would never guess its pedigree. Drink now-2015. Tasted April 2009.

robert_parker91

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Like the Latour 1983, a wine that leaves you wanting more. First tasted at Chez Bruce in June 2001: attractive minty, blackcurrant fruit: pure Cabernet Sauvignon with good depth. Medium bodied, but relatively simple wine. Then again in April 2003 at the Christies Latour Masterclass: a noticeable tawny rim here. The nose still has a vegetal green pepper element which dissipates a little with aeration. It lacks a little roundness and depth on the palate: loose-knit, notes of mocha and caramel and some excess alcohol on the finish. This is still a Latour that under-performs for the vintage. Tasted again in July 2003 when it seemed far more fleshy (indeed I mistook it for a Right Bank!)

robert_parker88

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A very similar nose to the bottle poured a couple of weeks ago, lacking any breeding, complexity, vim or vigor. A conspicuous lack of definition. Loose-knit on the medium-bodied palate, low acidity (for Latour) and drinking now. Leathery, tarry and slightly diffuse finish. Tasted December 2006. Drinking now-2012

robert_parker87

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

This has always been a weak, open-knit, fruity, light-styled Latour. The wine exhibits a deep ruby color with some lightening at the edge. There is a jammy, berry fragrance intertwined with herbs and earth. In the mouth, the wine is surprisingly light, and has always been accessible. There is little grip, tannin, or extract in the finish, which quickly disappears. Anticipated maturity: Now-2008. Last tasted 1/97

robert_parker88

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at the 1985 Bordeaux horizontal, the 1985 Château Latour put in a decent performance, although it is, and never has been, a great Latour. It has a respectable nose of black, earthy fruit, tinged with brine and leather. It does not exactly convince you of its pedigree. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, perhaps more backward than previous examples with a slightly grainy texture. What it is missing is substance, grip and conviction, a Latour content to deliver the minimum instead of reaching for the stars. Here, it is outflanked by both 1985s from Lynch Bages and Haut-Brion. Tasted July 2015.