Château Latour: 2022 New Releases

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | JANUARY 31, 2022

Latour fans will want to be on the lookout for the château’s 2022 new releases. The 2016 Forts de Latour is fabulous, while the 2014 Grand Vin captures all of the finesse of a vintage I have always regarded highly, especially on the Left Bank, where near-ideal conditions in September saved a year that was not looking so promising during a summer marked by above average rainfall, lower than average temperatures and elevated disease pressure. I tasted all of the wines with Technical Director Hélène Genin during a recent visit to the château, my first trip to Bordeaux in two years.

The 2017 Pauillac is a gorgeous wine. Unlike most of the Latour releases of these last few years, it needs more time in bottle! There is plenty of textural depth, but the acids are high and the tannins are a bit larger in size than is typical for the Pauillac. I very much like the wine's exuberance and power. The 2017 is still very vibrant. It just needs time to develop more aromatic nuance. 92/Drink 2025-2037.

The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. 96/Drink 2026-2041.

The 2014 Latour captures the personality of the year in its linear, lithe construction. It's a decidedly understated Latour that is more about finesse than brawn. Bright red cherry/plum fruit, spice, mint and sweet tobacco open over time, but at this level, wines are more about a feel, an expression of place and a vintage. The 2014 Latour embodies all the best this cool, late-ripening growing season had to offer. I loved the 2014 when it was first shown, about five years ago, and I love it today. It is a super-classic Pauillac. 96/Drink 2026-2064.