Les Forts de Latour 2014

This top cuvée is the second wine from Château Latour, Les Forts de Latour, from the top vintage of 2014. It has received the prestigious award of 93 points from Robert Parker, a distinction not easily achieved! Les Forts de Latour takes its name from a historic parcel in the Enclos. The wine was first labeled with this name in 1966 and has been further developed over the years. We can certainly tell, it's an exceptionally beautiful wine with great diversity. The Château Latour winery has a very long history and is also one of the oldest wineries in France. The winery is located in the Médoc wine region, specifically in Pauillac. It is situated just 300 meters from the Gironde River, which has influenced the magnificent harvest. This red wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and a small portion of Merlot. None other than Francois Pinault owns the château, who purchased it in 1993. He had several buildings renovated and created a new winery. This included an aging room, as Château Latour has been aging its own wines for a few years now, and you can occasionally buy a few bottles. We were fortunate enough to purchase three bottles of this top-notch wine.

The different vineyards for this Les Forts de Latour

Several vineyards are used for this red wine, and some parcels from its older sibling are also incorporated into Les Forts de Latour. A number of vineyards just outside the Enclos in the Cru Classé areas of Pauillac feed this wine. These include plots such as Piñada, Petit Batailley, and St. Anne, which have belonged to the estate for over a century and whose vines boast a high average age of up to 40 years. On the other hand, a seven-hectare island of vineyards in the commune of Artigues lies on gravel terraces, which was purchased in 2005. These different plots offer very different terroirs, giving Forts de Latour more varied characteristics and flavor profiles, depending on the vintage.

Wood aging for the Les Forts de Latour 2014

Les Forts de Latour is produced with the same meticulous care as the Grand Vin, both in the vineyard and in the winery. The only noticeable difference, aside from the origin of the grapes, is the percentage of new barrels, which accounts for up to 60 percent. As soon as this bottle is opened, we smell the full aroma: abundant richness of black fruit, cedar, and a hint of light spice. Let the wine sit open for at least an hour before drinking, as it really needs time to release all its aromas and flavors. Decanting is also welcome. In the glass, it is a beautiful dark red with a purple rim. It smells of black fruit with nuances of cedar, spices, vanilla, licorice, cocoa, and balsamic vinegar. The palate is very full and complex, with rich notes of blackberries and berries on the palate, accompanied by hints of smoke, black olives, and cigars. Later, after the wine has matured, we also noted impressions of elegant tannins, spices, and a touch of pepper. This wine can age for at least another 20 years!