Chateau Latour 2004

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

What a brilliant wine conjured by the team in 2004! Cropped at 52hl/ha, it retains that pure nose of blackberry, cedar, a hint of liquorices this time, then that note of damson, but it certainly appears to be opening up since I tasted it last year. Wonderful definition. The palate is full-bodied with rounded tannins, notes of blackberry, bilberry and blueberry, breeding and style in abundance here, leading to a warm, velvety, sappy finish that lacquers the palate. Wine of the vintage? Drink 2015-2035. Tasted June 2009.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A very deep garnet core. A focused, but almost conservative nose, as if it does not want to expend too much intensity in its youth. Blackberries, cedar, a touch of mulberry, then with aeration something a little more exotic underneath: fresh figs and damson, very focused on the finish with the tannic structure showing through. There is a nonchalance about this Latour, but it has great breeding and style with great persistency. Drink 2015-2035. Tasted September 2008.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Well, this really does show its class. At first the nose is quite closed, but becomes quite minerally with aeration, with aromas of damp earth emerging. The palate has awesome balance and finesse - this is not a powerful Latour like the 2003, more understated and refined. Wonderful definition. Brilliant focus. Smooth, silky finish. A regal, exquisite Latour. Drink from 2014. Tasted April 2005.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2004 Latour is perhaps evolving slower than I expected, although it remains one of the finest Left Bank wines of the vintage. It has that quintessential graphite-scented bouquet intermixed with blackberry and cedar, although the liquorice note that I observed previously has receded. Again, there is wonderful definition. The palate is full-bodied but surprisingly more sultry than I expected, especially here where I was able to directly compare it with the other 2004 First Growths. It delivers the "authority" you expect from Latour, although I might be inclined just to give it another 2-3 years in bottle. Tasted September 2016.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The wine of the vintage, Latour’s 2004 boasts a dense purple color as well as a classic nose of ink, black currants, sweet cherries, crushed rocks, and minerals. Even though it is aged in 100% new French oak, there is not a hint of woodiness. It possesses a beautiful texture, moderately high tannin, fabulous concentration, and a long, full-bodied finish. A brilliant wine from a challenging vintage, it should be at its apogee between 2013-2035. Kudos to everyone at Latour!

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

After a 2003 production of less than 10,000 cases, there are a whopping 15,000 cases of the 2004 Latour. The harvest began on September 23 (Merlot) and finished on October 19. About 51% of the production made it into the final blend (89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc). At this early stage, Latour appears to be the wine of the Medoc, and provides additional evidence of why Latour is pushing slightly ahead of most of its first-growth rivals. It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a sweet perfume of crushed rocks, black currants, raspberries, and hints of wood as well as cold steel. It reveals the most density and depth of any of the Medoc first-growths. Manager Frederic Engerer believes the 2004 is closest in style to the 2002. By the standards of the vintage, which did not produce many big, powerful, deep, full-bodied wines, it is a large-scaled yet elegant wine with sweet tannin and plenty of depth. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Served blind at the chateau. Tight at first on the nose, but unfurling gracefully with cedar and graphite to the fore, underlying sweet, almost exotic fruits waiting in the wings, then with further aeration bilberries and damson. The palate is very well defined, fine tannins, youthful and harmonious, smooth and filigree towards the deft, silky finish. Sublime. Tasted December 2009.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

A terrific effort from Administrator Frederic Engerer and owner Francois Pinault, the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Latour exhibits a strong cassis character intermixed with notes of crushed rocks, earth, cedar, and forest floor. Racy, elegant, but powerful with medium to full body, and sweet tannin, it will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep for three decades. It is a very impressive offering. Also tasted: 2004 Pauillac (87; $38.00)

vinous94

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Bright ruby-red. Classic aromas of currant, plum, graphite and minerals. Suave and smooth in the mouth, with a compelling sweetness and lushness for the vintage. At once easygoing and wonderfully complex, conveying a powerful soil character. The finish is ripely tannic, sweet and very long. This is wonderfully expressive today but the young 2006 may have even longer aging potential. Along with Chateau Margaux, my candidate for wine of the vintage

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Full ruby-red. Expressive aromas of redcurrant, minerals and spicy oak. Wonderfully sweet and smooth in the middle palate, with superb purity of redcurrant and mineral flavors. Offers lovely flesh and length, but this is in an oaky phase at the moment. Engerer notes that the 2004 is more predictable and easier to read than the 2005 and agreed with my observation that most 2004s are surprisingly expressive today-even the wines that were being prepared for the bottling.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Ruby-red. Highly complex aromas of dark berries, graphite, licorice, minerals and cola. Lush, dense and sweet, with a wonderfully creamy, opulent mouth feel for the vintage but no impression of excess weight. This boasts superb fruit and palate coverage. Finishes with very suave, spreading tannins and outstanding persistence. An aristocratic expression of ripe cabernet sauvignon. Engerer notes that the tannins remind him of the '96 Latour.