Les Forts de Latour - Pauillac, Bordeaux 2005
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Château Latour is a wine estate in Pauillac, part of the Haut-Medoc sub-region on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. The estate’s history dates back to at least the 14th century, though vineyards were not established here until the 17th century. The estate is located at the southern edge of the Pauillac appellation, bordering the St Julien vineyards of Château Léoville Las Cases. Latour is one of the five First Growths of the 1855 classification, occupying the top tier alongside Châteaux Lafite Rothschild, Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Mouton Rothschild.
Latour is owned by François Pinault, one of France’s wealthiest people. It forms the jewel in the crown of Pinault’s Artémis Domaines, itself part of the larger Groupe Artémis. Other wineries within the portfolio include Clos de Tart and Domaine d’Eugénie in Burgundy; Château Grillet in the Rhône Valley; Champagne Jacquesson; Eisele Vineyard in California’s Napa Valley; and Maisons et Domaines Henriot, which includes holdings in Champagne, Burgundy, and Oregon.
The day-to-day running of Latour is entrusted to the dynamic Frédéric Engerer. Under his stewardship, a major programme of investment has taken place. In 2012, Latour announced that it would no longer offer its wines as part of the Bordeaux En Primeur campaign. Instead, the wines are kept at the estate until such a time as they are ready to be opened and enjoyed. They are then offered through the La Place de Bordeaux distribution system several years after the vintage.
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 notable difference, apart from the origin of the grapes, is the proportion of new barrels (50 to 60%) used in the maturing stage. The blend for Forts de Latour can vary from one year to the next but there is always a higher proportion of Merlot (25 to 30%) compared to the Grand Vin.
Weather: 2005 Bordeaux wine is the product of a hot, dry, growing season. From start to finish, the conditions were perfect! While dry, there was just enough moisture at the right times to nourish the vines. The flowering took place at the beginning of June. During the late summer months, some vines had become stressed from the drought, but the rains which fell August 17 in the Right Bank and August 25 in the Medoc. This was followed by another dose of rain at the perfect moment, which gave more nourishment to the dry Bordeaux vineyards on September 8 and again on September 25. What had at one point been considered potential drought issues was completely eradicated by this point in time. Starting in late September and continuing into October, the days were sunny and warm, with chilly night temperatures. This allowed the grapes to be harvested under picture perfect conditions and gave the growers the opportunity to wait until the fruit achieved phenolic ripeness. The combination of warm days, cold nights and just enough rain at the right moments produced extraordinary 2005 Bordeaux wine!
Technical Information:
Vineyards: AOC Pauillac, Bordeaux
Grape Varieties: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon & 24% Merlot
Alcohol: 13.2%
Drink: Now to 2050+
Tasting Note: Expressive, perfumed aromatics meld into a core of supple, open-knit fruit in a mid-weight, impeccably balanced Forts de Latour. Hints of red fruit, iron, smoke and tobacco add lovely shades of nuance. Tasted by Antonio Galloni
Latour is owned by François Pinault, one of France’s wealthiest people. It forms the jewel in the crown of Pinault’s Artémis Domaines, itself part of the larger Groupe Artémis. Other wineries within the portfolio include Clos de Tart and Domaine d’Eugénie in Burgundy; Château Grillet in the Rhône Valley; Champagne Jacquesson; Eisele Vineyard in California’s Napa Valley; and Maisons et Domaines Henriot, which includes holdings in Champagne, Burgundy, and Oregon.
The day-to-day running of Latour is entrusted to the dynamic Frédéric Engerer. Under his stewardship, a major programme of investment has taken place. In 2012, Latour announced that it would no longer offer its wines as part of the Bordeaux En Primeur campaign. Instead, the wines are kept at the estate until such a time as they are ready to be opened and enjoyed. They are then offered through the La Place de Bordeaux distribution system several years after the vintage.
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 notable difference, apart from the origin of the grapes, is the proportion of new barrels (50 to 60%) used in the maturing stage. The blend for Forts de Latour can vary from one year to the next but there is always a higher proportion of Merlot (25 to 30%) compared to the Grand Vin.
Weather: 2005 Bordeaux wine is the product of a hot, dry, growing season. From start to finish, the conditions were perfect! While dry, there was just enough moisture at the right times to nourish the vines. The flowering took place at the beginning of June. During the late summer months, some vines had become stressed from the drought, but the rains which fell August 17 in the Right Bank and August 25 in the Medoc. This was followed by another dose of rain at the perfect moment, which gave more nourishment to the dry Bordeaux vineyards on September 8 and again on September 25. What had at one point been considered potential drought issues was completely eradicated by this point in time. Starting in late September and continuing into October, the days were sunny and warm, with chilly night temperatures. This allowed the grapes to be harvested under picture perfect conditions and gave the growers the opportunity to wait until the fruit achieved phenolic ripeness. The combination of warm days, cold nights and just enough rain at the right moments produced extraordinary 2005 Bordeaux wine!
Technical Information:
Vineyards: AOC Pauillac, Bordeaux
Grape Varieties: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon & 24% Merlot
Alcohol: 13.2%
Drink: Now to 2050+
Tasting Note: Expressive, perfumed aromatics meld into a core of supple, open-knit fruit in a mid-weight, impeccably balanced Forts de Latour. Hints of red fruit, iron, smoke and tobacco add lovely shades of nuance. Tasted by Antonio Galloni
