Pauillac de Latour 2016, Château Latour, Pauillac
NEW
£124.95 per bottle
ABV 13.0%
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot.
The 2016 Pauillac de Château Latour is a compelling, sumptuous wine that shows just how magnificent the year is. How can this be a third wine? Dark and ample in the glass, Latour's Pauillac possesses tremendous breed right out of the gate. Black cherry, graphite, licorice, spice and leather all meld together in the glass. Floral overtones develop nicely with time. Only the (relatively) lighter structure suggests the Pauillac's place in the château's hierarchy. Everything else is first class all the way. The Pauillac is a blend taken from parcels outside the core holdings in the famed enclos, plus younger vines in the enclos. Drink 2022-2036
92
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, March 2021
Composed of 54.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38.9% Merlot, and 6.5% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour is deep garnet in color. It skips out of the glass with exuberant notions of chocolate-covered cherries, wild blueberries, and sassafras, leading to suggestions of tilled soil, fallen leaves, and charcoal. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing and still tightly wound, offering bright, crunchy black and red fruits with loads of savory sparks and an approachable, grainy texture, finishing with great persistence.
93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, December 2022
This wine has been made every year since 1989, and was developed primarily for the restaurant market.
Terroir
The Pauillac is made primarily from young vines, growing on the less prestigious terroirs in the vineyard, and from wines that do not meet the selection criteria for Forts de Latour (specific to each vintage).
About 20% new barrels are used in the vinification of the Pauillac, the precise proportion varying depending on the characteristics of the vintage. The blend for Château Latour’s Pauillac typically consists of nearly 45% Merlot.
Style
This generous, fruity wine is an excellent introduction to the family of wines produced by Château Latour. It can be enjoyed after four to five years of ageing, and will continue to improve for several more years.
