Chateau Latour 2000

robert_parker100

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Almost opaque in colour, the bouquet has a bewitching sense of presicion and mineralite that surpasses even the 2005. It is a nose that seems to “sparkle” if I can describe it as such. Blackberry, graphite and crushed stone…something subterranean. The palate is still full of tension and poise, edgy acidity, incredible weight and again, mineralite. The wine has a stupendous backbone, a show-stopping crescendo towards the finish and yet you know this is just a child prodigy tuning up at the piano. The symphony comes later. Drink 2015-2050+

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. This has a very fine nose: wonderful lift and definition, blackberry, raspberry, graphite, a touch of espresso, smoke and burning embers. In the background, there is a slight hickory element. The palate is medium-bodied, fine but very structured tannins, blackberry, soy, tar, graphite and an ethereal sense of symmetry towards the vibrant, brilliantly defined finish. Aristocratic. Drink 2015-2050. Tasted March 2010.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Deep garnet in color, the 2000 Latour has aromas of kirsch, creme de cassis and dried mulberries with nuances of leather, incense, salami and fertile loam. The palate is just starting to mature into a wonderfully satiny texture, with layer upon layer of berry preserve, baking spice and earth notes resulting in a wine of incredible poise.

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

There are only 14,000 cases (only 48% of the crop made it into the grand vin) of the 2000, which flirts with perfection. Truly great stuff, it reveals perfect equilibrium, great finesse, yet colossal size, with a thickness and density that rival the brilliant 1996. This saturated black ruby/purple colored wine seems almost discreet on first inspection, but with aeration, notes of vanilla, exceptionally pure, mineral-infused creme de cassis, and earth emerge. Full-bodied and tannic, it should come close to representing perfection. Latour's 2000 is hard to compare with previous vintages. It obviously does not have the opulence of the 1990 and 1982, yet there is an extraordinary purity, delineation, seamlessness, and freshness to this wine that sets it apart from previous vintages. In any event, it is prodigious, with at least five decades of evolution ahead of it. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2050.

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

2000 saw a warm, dry July and August with a small amount of rain from mid-September onward. Composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2000 Latour has a deep garnet color and is showing a good amount of evolution, sporting mature notes of fried exotic spices, hoisin, unsmoked cigars and fruitcake with hints of incense, potpourri, cast iron pan and charcuterie. Medium-bodied, soft, plush and savory in the mouth, it has a long, mineral-tinged finish. 14,000 cases were made this year, representing 48% of production.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Only 48% of the crop made it into the prodigious 2000 Latour. The wine's saturated ruby/purple color is accompanied by sumptuous aromas of jammy black fruits intermixed with earth, vanilla, grilled nuts, and minerals. It is remarkably seamless for a young Latour, but as the wine sits in the glass, its acid and unevolved high tannin level begin to make an impact. This is an unctuously-styled effort where tasters may not discern the tannin until the finish. A fascinating offering, it will flirt with perfection when fully mature. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.

robert_parker100

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted several time, firstly in barrel when it already seemed like a profound wine. Then at Farr’s 2000 tasting, a perfect score where it soared above the other First Growths, a "powerhouse" of a wine. Last tasted December 2004. A very deep ruby colour. A heavenly nose with fine definition: blackberry, pencil lead, pain grille and cedar. Very complex. An effortless nose. Very smooth entry, supple and seamless texture. Ripe black fruits with pronounced vanillary oak. Well-knit tannins. Backward. Notes of black cherry, cassis and a little spice. Very classy indeed. Would like a little more grip on the finish. Tasted twice thereafter with similar notes and perfect scores.

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 2000 Latour (a relatively abundant 14,000 cases compared to what they produced in 2009, 2008, or 2005) is “packed and stacked.” The extremely rich, black/purple color to the rim is followed by a wine with some subtle smoke, loads of minerals, a hint of vanilla, and plenty of creme de cassis as well as roasted meat and a slight scorched earth character. Broad, savory, and rich, the wine seems to be about 5 years away from full maturity and should drink well for at least 40-50 more years. A great effort, probably eclipsed only by 2003 and 2009. My original ratings appear to have been dead on the money for both of these efforts from Chateau Latour.

robert_parker100

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 2000 Latour is one of the vintage's most compelling efforts. Yields from the old vines from which most of this cuvee is produced were 37 hectoliters per hectare. Forty-eight percent of the crop was utilized in the grand vin. It is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. A prodigious effort, it appears to be the star of the Medoc first-growths. Despite its thick, viscous appeal, the total acid is 3.7 grams per liter, quite high considering that most great vintages of Latour possess 3.2-3.3. This wine possesses sweet tannin, amazing presence and concentration, extraordinary purity, and phenomenally ripe, pristine, unctuous, but not heavy notes of black fruits. It is a model of power, symmetry, and grace, with a finish that lasts for over 45 seconds. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2050.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Served blind at the chateau. There is so much brooding intensity in this wine, almost as if it is stalking the senses. Certainly there is remarkable mineralite here, sensational definition with briary and graphite developing with time. The palate is firm and masculine, tannic, powerful, such density and weight on the finish, yet showing no compassion to the tasted…yet. Approached blind, this is difficult to love as it is such uncompromising Latour, but it will blossom. Tasted December 2009.

vinous94

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2000 Latour is an attractive wine, although I would have like to see a little more freshness, especially in the aromatics, for such a young Grand Vin. Round, creamy tannins give the 2000 much of its seamless, open-knit personality. Spice, leather, dark cherry and plum take on exotic shades of expression. With time in the glass, the 2000 turns a bit flabby. I can only suspect (and hope) this is less than a truly representative bottle.

vinous99

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2000 Latour is very deep in color. The nose is backward and demands coaxing from the glass, eventually revealing intense black fruit, cedar, graphite and very subtle Japanese nori aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with an arching structure that grips the mouth. The tannins are a little bolder than the 2001. This unfolds swirl by swirl, with hints of licorice emerging with time, and fanning out audaciously on the finish.

vinous99

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2000 Latour is a wine that I feel is overlooked by many cognoscenti, goggle-eyed by the 2005 or 2009. However, this is perhaps the pinnacle of the millennial vintage. It has a stunning bouquet with extraordinarily pure blackberry, raspberry, cedar and violets. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate has a satin-like texture thanks to the filigree tannin, almost Burgundy-like in texture though Pinot Noir rarely achieves this density or arching structure. It is extremely complex, the black fruit giving way to more red fruit with aeration, gradually mellowing, even if it would benefit from another four or five years in bottle. This is a majestic Latour. Tasted at the International Business & Wine Latour dinner at Ten Trinity.

vinous97

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Full medium ruby. Wonderfully sweet, rich aromas of cassis, minerals and bitter chocolate. A huge wine with almost painful intensity; solid as a rock and at the same time utterly sensual and creamy, with great inner-mouth complexity and depth of flavor and a complete absence of rough edges. Almost too easy today, says Engerer. Sweet notes of roasted nuts and chocolate add to the wine's early appeal. A powerful, hugely rich Latour with a great building finish and perfectly suave tannins. This was really the last vintage of Latour with a meaningful percentage (3%) of cabernet franc, as the old franc vines were removed after 2000. But Engerer noted that Latour planted 1.5 hectares of petit verdot, which can be expected to represent up to 4% of the blend by 2004.

vinous97

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Full saturated medium ruby. Brooding, perfumed nose combines cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate. Dense, sweet, lush and seamless; this fills the entire mouth, and then some. Sound ripe acidity contributes to the wine's great backbone and flavor definition. Suave, gripping finish features great extension. A legend in the making.

vinous97

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Saturated medium ruby. Primary aromas of cassis, raspberry, black cherry, licorice and menthol. Very dense and full; impressively sweet and concentrated. The strong but harmonious acids give the flavors superb focus. Finishes with big but ripe tannins and palate-coating, thick fruit of outstanding breadth. Potentially profound.