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2003 Chateau Latour (750ml)
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QUANTITY AVAILABLE: 1
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Vintage: 2003
Format: 750ml
Wine Name: Chateau Latour
Vineyard:
Designation: 1er Cru Classe
Appellation: Pauillac
Producer: Chateau Latour
Varietal: Red Bordeaux Blend
Type: Red
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-Region: Medoc
Alcohol:
Tasting note: Red-ruby. Explosive aromas of plum liqueur, currant, minerals and lead pencil. Huge, lush, sweet and utterly seamless; this has the palate-caressing texture of liquid velvet. About as deep as this extreme vintage gets. Finishes with noble, compellingly sweet tannins and great length. This is amazing wine, and only its exotic character prevented me from giving it an even higher score. Interestingly, the IPT here is 65, compared to 67 for the 2005. But this voluminous and powerful wine will be more fun to drink than the 2005 for many years simply due to its sensual appeal, even if the 2005 should ultimately surpass it in verve, minerality and overall aromatic complexity. (Incidentally, Latour's third wine, simply called Pauillac, is extremely good in both 2005 and 2003-the former vintage showing terrific energy and loads of early personality, and the latter fat, round and exotic, with what Engerer described as a "Napa nose." (97pts Stephen Tanzer)
Tasted: May/Jun. 2006
Score: 97
Drink: N/A
Tasting note: There are only 10,800 cases (rather than the normal 15,000-20,000) of the 2003 Latour, a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot (13.3% finished alcohol). A prodigious effort, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of smoke, cedar, creme de cassis, flowers, crushed rocks, and blackberries. Massive and multi-layered, with huge richness and low acidity, it is about as unctuous as a young Latour can be. It could be compared to the 1982, but it may be even more pure, at least at this early stage, than that monumental wine. The level of intensity builds prodigiously in the mouth, and the finish lasts nearly a minute. Disarmingly accessible (although analytically the tannin level is high), I suspect it will ultimately shut down, but it was performing impeccably when I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+. What can one say about proprietor Francois Pinault and his manager, Frederic Engerer? A strong argument can be made that in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, Latour produced the wine of the vintage, although it has plenty of competition in the Northern Medoc in 2003. Moreover, the bargains are the estate's least expensive cuvee, Pauillac, followed by Les Forts de Latour, Latour's second wine which continues to increase in quality. (100pts Robert Parker)
Tasted: Apr. 2006
Score: 100
Drink: 2010-40
Tasting note: Intense aromas of blackberry, licorice, currant and mineral. Full-bodied, with very well-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. Very refined and beautiful. Goes on for minutes. This reminds me of the fabulous 1996. But even better. (98pts JS, Wine Spectator)
Tasted: Mar. 31, 2006
Score: 98
Drink: After 2012
Tasting note: There
are similarities of behavior in these two wines. The 2003 Latour is
starting to lose the hedonism of its young flesh and becoming woven in a
much more classic fashion. The wine is fine, fat and complex. It takes
on a superior life while very long on finish. My absolute recommendation
is to wait before drinking it. (97pts Jean-Marc Quarin)
Tasted: Feb. 2009
Score: 97
Drink: N/A
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