Wine Advisor
Les Forts de Latour 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is made up of 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot, with 14.2% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. It was aged in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a fair bit of swirling to reveal notions of baked black cherries, cassis and blackberry pie with hints of pencil lead, clove oil, cardamom and allspice with a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impressive density with velvety tannins and a lively backbone supporting the generous black fruits, finishing long with all the earthy nuances coming through at the very end.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is made up of 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot, with 14.2% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Deep purple-black in color, it needs a fair bit of coaxing to reveal slowly emerging notes of wild blueberries, crème de cassis, candied violets, cinnamon stick and fragrant soil with nuances of black tea, yeast extract and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, rich and densely packed with layer upon layer of earth and floral accents, it is framed by very firm, very ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing with a very long, very purely fruited finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is surprisingly approachable. It boasts serious concentration because of the warm dry summer and ensuing low yields, yet the intensity of the fruit pretty much covers the tannins, quite unusual for young Forts de Latour. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, incense, licorice and scorched earth add to the wine's distinctive sepia-toned personality. The 2018 turned out beautifully.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The just-released 2018 Les Forts de Latour wafts from the glass with aromas of creamy berries, licorice, red fruit compote, cigar wrapper and toasty new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, youthfully chewy palate with a sweet core of fruit that can't quite conceal its underlying tannic payload. Like many 2018s, its youthful flesh is receding to reveal structure that will demand some patience to resolve.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A solid and steely red with lots of blackcurrant and blueberry character. Medium-to full-bodied and polished, fine tannins. Flavorful finish.
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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