Château Latour First Growth Bordeaux / 2014 / 750mL

90% Cabernet Sauvignon
9.25% Merlot
0.5% Cabernet Franc
0.25% Petit Verdot

Tasting Notes (by William Kelley):

The 2014 Latour is one of the very finest wines of a vintage that favoured the northern Médoc.

Mingling aromas of wild berries and cassis with hints of cigar wrapper, loamy soil, black truffles and classy new oak, it’s full-bodied, rich and concentrated, its broad attack segueing into a deep, tightly wound mid-palate that’s framed by powdery, chalky tannins and bright acids, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish.

This classically balanced, youthfully structured young wine looks set to enjoy prodigious longevity. It’s reminiscent of a modern-day version of a cooler vintage such as 1996, though of course these days maturity is more complete and selection even more rigorous than was the case two decades ago.

Vintage Notes:

After a mild and wet winter, warm conditions in March led to an early bud break: the Merlot on 21st March and the Cabernet Sauvignon 31st March.

The weather was fine and summery in April and May, but rainy episodes after 19th May increased disease pressure.

Fortunately, good weather in June was beneficial for the flowering with the Merlot in bloom on 2nd June and the Cabernet Sauvignon on 5th June.

July was cooler than normal with regular rainfall which meant our team in the vineyard had to be extra vigilant to prevent the spread of fungal diseases. Even though temperatures increased after 15th July, our team remained under pressure until the Merlot berries changed colour on 6th August and the Cabernet Sauvignon on 9th August.

Thanks to hot and dry weather in August and September, the berries ripened gradually and uniformly until harvest.

About Château Latour:

Château Latour is situated in the heart of the Médoc wine region, about 50 km north-west of Bordeaux, where the legend of Bordeaux vineyards began.

The Château’s prime terroir, l’Enclos, overlooks the Estuary Gironde which over the centuries, has given the vineyard its geological complexity and, on a daily basis, ensures a mild climate.