1996 Chateau Latour, 1st Growth Pauillac (1 x Double Magnum)
A hot, dry August produced very concentrated grapes in 1996. However, it turned a bit rainy in mid-September through early October, making the vintage less consistent on the Right Bank and in Graves. But as the weather turned glorious from early October on, it was an amazing year for later-harvested Cabernet in the Médoc. There was new ownership at Latour by this time, and a new vat room was completed just prior to the harvest this year. The 1996 Latour is medium to deep garnet in color with a profound earthy, meaty, gamey nose with hints of blueberry preserves, crème de cassis and pencil shavings. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated and packed with muscular fruit, with a firm, ripe, grainy backbone and epically long finish. Showing much more youthfully than the 2000 tasted on the same day and still possessing bags of youthful fruit in the mid-palate, this beauty is going to go on and on!
1996 Chateau Latour, 1st Growth Pauillac (1 x Double Magnum)
A hot, dry August produced very concentrated grapes in 1996. However, it turned a bit rainy in mid-September through early October, making the vintage less consistent on the Right Bank and in Graves. But as the weather turned glorious from early October on, it was an amazing year for later-harvested Cabernet in the Médoc. There was new ownership at Latour by this time, and a new vat room was completed just prior to the harvest this year. The 1996 Latour is medium to deep garnet in color with a profound earthy, meaty, gamey nose with hints of blueberry preserves, crème de cassis and pencil shavings. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated and packed with muscular fruit, with a firm, ripe, grainy backbone and epically long finish. Showing much more youthfully than the 2000 tasted on the same day and still possessing bags of youthful fruit in the mid-palate, this beauty is going to go on and on!
| Producer | Chateau Latour |
|---|---|
| Sub-Region | Pauillac |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Country | France |
| Grape Variety | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 1996 |
| Colour | Red |
| ABV | 13.00% |
Free delivery on orders over £125 to mainland UK addresses. More information on delivery and collection options can be found here.
Wines and spirits purchased from Jeroboams can be stored in our temperature-controlled warehouse. To find out more information about cellaring, please visit our Storage page
Vinous
The 1996 Latour is a wine that I often find overrated and did not achieve everything that might have been possible in this favourable growing season. That said, this might well be the best of around two dozen bottles I have encountered over the years. As usual, the 1996 is decidedly austere at first, standoffish, looks down its nose at you. Yet it coalesces with time and develops engaging cedar-scented black fruit tinged with pencil box and a touch of iris with time. The palate (again) is a little muted at first but it soon found its voice and evolved very fine tannin allied with a crisp line of acidity. It is not quite as demonstrative as it was even just a couple of years ago, gained some detail and perhaps it will continue to meliorate. Very fine, very fine indeed – but not a patch of say, the Château Margaux or perhaps even Léoville Las Cases. Tasted at the International Business & Wine Latour dinner at Ten Trinity.
94 Points / Drinking 2018 - 2040
By Neal Martin / July 2018
Vinous
Deep ruby-red. Vibrant, pure aromas of cassis, blueberry, licorice and flowers. A distinct step up from the above in sheer extract. Great sweetness allied with strong backbone. This has taken on more structure in barrel. Powerful, extremely persistent fruit really stains the palate. Very impressive.
94-96 Points
By Stephen Tanzer / May 1998
Vinous
Saturated ruby-red. Dark berries, violet, licorice and a note of torrefaction. Explosive, pure flavors are almost too big for the mouth. Finishes with big, sweet tannins and expanding, exhilarating flavors of pruneaux and crystallized dark berries. Perfectly integrated oak. A great Latour.
95+ Points
By Stephen Tanzer / May 1999