Les Forts de Château Latour 2020 Pauillac AC, MC

Les Forts de Château Latour

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Product number: n32146

Les Forts de Château Latour 2020
Pauillac AC, MC

Rating in the 100-point quality scale: 98

CHF 290.00

Prices excl. 8,1% VAT plus shipping costs

Availability: 18 bts. available | content: 150 cl

Wine available as single bottles can be found here

Les Forts de Latour takes its name from a historic parcel of the estate. The care and attention devoted to this wine by our team is identical to that lavished on the Grand Vin, reflecting an unwavering pursuit of quality since its creation in 1966. Its historic vineyards, Petit-Batailley and Saint- Anne, lie at the heart of Pauillac Classified Growths. They are today complemented by the area surrounding the Enclos and by young plantings from this exceptional terroir overlooking the Gironde estuary. To this ensemble is added a highly prized 7-hectare plot situated on gravel terraces in the commune of Artigues. The characteristics of this vineyard require careful management of new oak during aging - around 60% - to preserve finesse and elegance while softening the tannins. 2020 Vintage The 2020 vintage, shaped by nearly 53 consecutive dry days between June and July, framed by notable rainfall in spring and again in August, produced wines of exceptional quality. Harmoniously balanced between power and freshness, it stands among the decade’s finest vintages.

Country:	France
Region:	Bordeaux
Producer/appellation:	Pauillac
Wine type:	Red wines
Year:	2020
Content:	150 cl
Organic/bio dynamic:	Yes

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2020 Les Forts de Latour is superb. Hints of gravel, dried herbs, game and licorice weave through a core of dark red/purplish fruit. Spice, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco follow. The purity of the flavors is just striking. Initially a touch reticent, the 2020 fleshes out beautifully with a bit of air. I would give this at least another year or two in bottle. A magnificent Forts de Latour. 02/2026

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2020 Les Forts de Latour has a fresh, delineated, precise and focused bouquet of graphite-infused black fruit. The oak is neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid black fruit, fine depth and ample grip. This builds momentum toward a structured finish, with a dash of spice lingering on the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 01/2024

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

The 2020 Les Forts de Latour is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26.5% Merlot and 3.5% Petit Verdot, incorporating a 64-hectoliter tank of Merlot that would normally have been included in the Grand Vin but which didn't fit with this year's blend. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of minty cassis, plums, licorice, pipe tobacco and vanilla pod, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety, with terrific depth at the core and a somewhat more textural, granular profile than the suave 2019. Under CEO Frédéric Engerer and technical director Hélène Génin, unremitting perfectionism and attention to detail are the order of the day at Château Latour, so it's no surprise that this great estate has delivered some of the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Certified organic since 2018, most of Latour's historic "Enclos" is being farmed biodynamically these days, and its entirety is now cultivated by horse to minimize soil compaction and preserve intact as many old vines as possible. But the objective, above all, rather than subscribing to any particular theoretical approach, is to treat the vineyard holistically, as a system, within and with nature rather than against it. Winemaking is precise but traditional, with macerations in stainless steel followed by maturation in barrel with rackings every three months and one fining with egg whites. Great attention is paid to the choice of barrels: each lot is tasted, and its style defined, before it's barreled down in cooperage adapted to that style. But if these methods realize the potential of this great site, what makes Latour's site so great? After all, this isn't the only vineyard to occupy the quaternary gravel terrace that makes its appearance along the banks of the Gironde. When I posed this question, Hélène Génin's response was to point to Latour's lenses of blue clay interfingered with and underlying those gravels. It's these pockets of clay in just the right places, Génin contends, that contain the secret to the wine's elegantly muscular power and immense longevity. 04/2023

Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck

A blockbuster of a Les Forts, the 2020 Les Forts de Latour is based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26.5% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and aged 18 months in 60% new French oak. Its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by textbook Latour notes of currants, melted crayon, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, dense, and concentrated on the palate, it has a powerful, structured mouthfeel, remarkable purity, perfectly ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. It might be the finest Les Forts I've tasted. Hitting 13.1% alcohol, it's approachable today yet has another 30 years of longevity. Drink 2026-2056. 03/2026

Jean-Marc Quarin

Jean-Marc Quarin

Beau rouge sombre, aux reflets pourpres. Nez intense et profond. Nuances de fruits frais, de fruits noirs et d'encre. Dense à l'attaque, moelleux en milieu de bouche et surtout avec de l'éclat dans la saveur, le vin glisse jusqu'en finale, séveux, raffiné, pur et long. Belle rémanence d'encre dans l'ultime persistance. 03/2023

James Suckling

James Suckling

Blue fruits and lead pencil come through here. Medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins and a crisp and citrusy finish. Nice zest. Floral and fruity. Al dente fruit. Needs four or five years to show its excellence. Try after 2028. 03/2023