Chateau Latour 2007

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at the 2007 Bordeaux horizontal in Southwold. The Latour 2007 has a high-toned bouquet, the new oak more prominent than the others in this blind flight with scents of blackberry, black olive and just a hint of fresh dates lending it an atypical hint of opulence. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, a touch of liquorice, segues into a juicy, generous finish that coats the mouth, but still primal and backward, perhaps yet to discover its personality? Give this 4-5 years at least. Tasted January 2011.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The Latour 2007 includes 15% pressed wine, the most since 1999. Limpid purple/garnet core with pink rim. An attractive nose, thematically following the Les Forts de Latour with a certain femininity with an attractive brightness. Excellent delineation. Builds nicely in the glass when I return to it after ten minutes developing a slight briny note, almost oyster shell quality. The palate is full-bodied, firm robust tannins, not the fruit intensity of previous vintages, again a rather stripped down Latour but still with excellent balance and very focused. Graphite, cedar and smoke towards the finish that is drier finish than usual. A difficult Latour to warm to. Another wine that I will seek to taste closer to bottling. Tasted April 2008.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 2007 Latour (the first wine made in the newly renovated cellars) exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, expansive bouquet of black fruits and spring flowers interwoven with a striking minerality. The wine’s dense, medium to full-bodied flavors are surprisingly evolved, with soft tannins, an ample, generous mouthfeel, and an endearing texture. Undoubtedly one of the longest lived wines of the vintage, the 2007 Latour should last for two decades or more.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A deeper colour than the Les Forts de Latour. The bouquet has certainly improved since primeur, gaining more fruit intensity, but yet still broody and rather introverted. Blackberry, wild hedgerow, gravel and something of oyster shell/cockle sheds. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, very fine tannins, focused black fruits, but like Les Forts, there is something reining it in on the austere, tobacco-tinged finish. It will be interesting to taste this after bottling. Drink 2017-2028. Tasted September 2008.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits' 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 Latour was late-released last year, and I reviewed it at that time. This bottle reaffirmed my remarks from a few months ago albeit here within the context of all the other First Growth. I noticed that it has slightly more intensity than the Lafite-Rothschild, a touch of menthol infusing the black fruit, certainly more exotic than the Lafite or Mouton with that subtle hint of black olive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is good muscle and weight to this Latour, with impressive tension and energy on the saline finish. It will drink well over the next 15 years, possibly longer. Tasted February 2017.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2007 Latour is the most recent late-release from the First Growth estate that abandoned en primeur after the 2011 vintage. Incidentally, this was the first vintage that Frédéric Engerer made with cellar technical director, Hélène Génin. "It was not an easy wine when it was young," he remarked when pouring the wine. Nevertheless, as it approaches ten years of age, the 2007 is finally entering its drinking plateau. It has a deep, quite lucid, dark garnet color. The nose is fresh and well defined. What I appreciate here is the focus, since 2007 was never a vintage to bestow power or immense complexity. Here, you wallow in lovely aromas of blackberry, bilberry and briary with that hint of black olive that I noticed four years ago when I last tasted it. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It feels attractively saline, fresh and crisp, though not angular. Again, it is the focus and detail that enhances this vibrant Château Latour and its keen line of acidity lends it the freshness to become just about drinkable. The length is moderate, rather than extraordinarily long, though its pencil lead finish takes you straight to Pauillac thereby enhancing typicité. This is a fine Latour from an underrated vintage. Tasted July 2016.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Rated - No tasting note given.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Served blind at the chateau. The bouquet appears to be opening up after bottling, with some lovely ripe black cherry/blueberry fruit lending the aromatics on certain atypical (for 2007) opulence. The palate is forward, open and generous, fleshy upon the entry with fine tannins, once again the finish brighter and livelier than it showed in barrel, with a sinewy finish. Although it lacks a little complexity, with some herbaceous elements towards the finish, this could turn out to be a little charmer of a Latour that will drink beautifully throughout the decade. Tasted December 2009.

vinous92

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Good bright ruby-red. Rather backward nose hints at cassis, black cherry, shoe polish, graphite, minerals and spices. Sweet, broad and rich, but with enticing fresh minerality giving energy to the rather full-bodied middle palate. The wine's cassis fruit is complicated by an almost decadent floral element. Finishes perfumed and very long, with wonderfully lush, supple, fine-grained tannins.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

(91% cabernet and 9% merlot) Good full ruby-red. Fresh aromas of cassis, tobacco leaf, minerals, graphite and licorice. Sweet, dense and consistent from start to finish, with enticing flavors of dark berries and chocolate given good grip by firm but fine-grained, palate-saturating tannins. Very nicely balanced, supple wine with a rebound of flavor on the end. On the soft side by Latour standards but wonderfully suave.