Close
Search
Filters

Latour (Ex-Château) 1982 300cl

1er Grand Cru Classé | Pauillac | Bordeaux | France
Sold out
Critics scores
100 Robert Parker
Always somewhat atypical (which I suspect will be the case with the more modern day 2003), the 1982 Latour has been the most opulent, flamboyant, and precocious of the northern Medocs, especially the St.-Juliens, Pauillacs, and St.-Estephes. It hasn’t changed much over the last 10-15 years, revealing sweet tannins as well as extraordinarily decadent, even extravagant levels of fruit, glycerin, and body. It is an amazing wine, and on several occasions, I have actually picked it as a right bank Pomerol because of the lushness and succulence of the cedary, blackberry, black currant fruit. This vintage has always tasted great, even in its youth, and revealed a precociousness that one does not associate with this Chateau. However, the 1982 is still evolving at a glacial pace. The concentration remains remarkable, and the wine is a full-bodied, exuberant, rich, classic Pauillac in its aromatic and flavor profiles. It’s just juiced up (similar to an athlete on steroids) and is all the better for it. This remarkable effort will last as long as the 1982 Mouton, but it has always been more approachable and decadently fruity. Drink it now, in 20 years, and in 50 years! Don’t miss it if you are a wine lover. Release price: ($350.00/case)
98 Wine Spectator
Big and chewy. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long currant, berry and cherry character. Underrated. Still more to come in this wine.--Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.
Producer
Château Latour
Château Latour is in a unique class of its own, producing some of the most powerful, complex and irresistible wines in Bordeaux. For centuries, Latour has been the greatest First Growth in the Médoc, if not in the entire region, producing the world’s most remarkable reds year after year. Considered the oldest wine producing property in Pauillac, with a history dating back to the 14th century, owners have come and gone over the years leading to 1993, when François Pinault, a French billionaire industrialist bought up the château. Since then, while maintaining Latour’s pursuit for excellence, Pinault has made significant changes, including a complete renovation of the winery, vat room, winemaking facilities and storage areas. He has also built a new tasting room, and redesigned the architecture of the main building, Pinault’s strides for modernization continue to accrue. Today, Château Latour’s talented team, motivated by their quest for perfection in both the vineyard and cellar, craft three wines. Preferring to release their wines after they are bottled, Latour was the first Bordeaux château to withdraw from the En Primeur system, starting with the 2012 vintage. One of the three wines in production, Le Pauillac de Château Latour is a worthy third wine. While Les Forts de Latour is a very impressive second wine. Le Grand Vin is at the pinnacle of Latour’s production, as the Grand Vin, it is a regal, concentrated red that is harmoniously balanced by its sophisticated refinement.