Wine Advisor
Les Forts de Latour 1982
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A gorgeous second wine. This fully mature 1982 is a complex bouquet of cedar wood, black currants, and smoky minerals is followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety-textured wine with gorgeous levels of fruit and glycerin. Sweet, round, and complex, it will easily last another 10-15 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Here is an example of why a second wine is well worth buying in a great vintage. Unfortunately, I do not have any of the 1990, and I couldn’t find any to purchase, but I bought plenty of the 1982, although I never dreamed it would be drinking so great at age 27. Much lighter around the edge than its bigger sibling, it exhibits an explosive nose of charcoal, black fruits, herbs, and soil undertones. Full-bodied and fleshy with no hard edges (which is exactly the way it performed over the last 10-15 years), it probably should be consumed over the next 4-5 years. However, given the fact that it has aged so beautifully for so long, it may last even longer. Release price: ($140.00/case)
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1982 is the finest Forts de Latour I have ever tasted. It continues to offer a glimpse of what potential magic will be forthcoming from its larger and more forceful sibling, the great Latour. Delicious since its release, the 1982 Forts de Latour offers a healthy saturated ruby/purple color with no signs of age. A classic nose of walnuts, cassis, and spices is followed by a rich, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, velvety-textured wine exhibiting the vintage's great ripeness and opulent texture. It will continue to offer a complex, classy mouthful of wine for at least another decade . Tasted 9 times since bottling with consistent notes.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Garnet core with brick rim. Quite an intense nose although a bit simplistic. Blackberry with a touch of damson and cigar box. Turning leathery with aeration. Well-knit palate, quite elegant and harmonious. Mulberry, damson with some notes of marzipan developing. Moderate complexity though the finish is a tad clumsy. I think they make a far superior Second Wine nowadays. Drink now. Tasted December 2004.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1982 Les Fort de Latour has a wonderful bouquet that roots your feet to the spot: black fruit, graphite, smoke and cedar with brilliant delineation and poise, despite the intensity. The palate is medium-bodied, with dense and quite robust tannin, huge weight and density. Honest to God, I actually thought this might be the Grand Vin before its identity was revealed. It dovetails its a savory, black truffle and gravel tinged finish that lingers long in the mouth. Very impressive. Tasted at the Latour dinner in Hong Kong.
About the Producer
Latour was a jointly held lord's domain until the end of the 16th century, At that time, the property was not entirely covered by vines and yet production largely exceeded requirements. There was no proper storage for the wine and it had to be drunk within the year. The estate remained in the hands of the Mullet family until the late 17th century, and while direct use of the land gradually replaced the leasing system, the wine-making situation changed very little. In the early 18th century, England's aristocracy and wealthy middle classes developed refined tastes, particularly for wine, from Bordeaux, Oporto, Jerez and other southern vineyards. Wine exports had been restricted by various blockades imposed by the wars, but now enjoyed a period of relative freedom and trade with Bordeaux grew rapidly. As a result of this flourishing trade, the estate gradually came to specialise in wine production, with 38 hectares of vines in 1759 and then 47 hectares by 1794.
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