Les Forts De Latour - Pauillac 2017 (750ml)
Price: $322.00
| Producer | Les Forts De Latour |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Sku | 5800 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Advocate: 94 Points
A blend of 65.2% Cabernet Sauvignon 33% Merlot 0.8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot the 2017 Les Forts de Latour is deep garnet-purple in color and strides confidently out of the glass with classic notes of plum preserves warm cassis and pencil shavings with nuances of mulberries pencil lead Indian spices and forest floor. Medium-bodied the palate packs a lot of fruit into a very elegant tightly knit palate delivering expressive blackberry and spicy flavors with a firm frame of grainy tannins and bold freshness finishing long with a peppery kick. In 2017 some areas inland and to the north of Pauillac were frosted (plots that go into Les Forts and Pauillac) but its enviable proximity to the estuary meant the L?Enclos was completely spared. ?The viticulture as well as winemaking have dramatically changed the styles of wine a vintage like 2017 can produce? Frederic Engerer commented during my Primeurs visit adding a reference to the vintage?s phenomenal ability to produce wines that are ?approachable now and have the ability to age.? Winemaker Helene Genin added that 2017 was the last year for Cabernet Franc which is a minor component in Les Forts de Latour this year. It was pulled out at the end of 2017.
The Wine Independent: 94 Points
A blend of 65.2% Cabernet Sauvignon 33% Merlot 0.8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot the 2017 Les Forts de Latour has a medium to deep garnet color with a lingering hint of purple. It prances out of the glass with fragrant scents of black raspberries mulberries and black currant pastilles leading to suggestions of lilacs iron ore fragrant earth and black truffles plus a waft of fallen leaves. The palate delivers an elegantly styled medium body with fantastically ripe ever so fine-grained tannins and beautiful tension supporting the intense black and red berry layers finishing with impressive length and loads of mineral and floral sparks. ?This is so floral!? exclaimed Genin as we tasted the 2017 Les Forts de Latour. She?s not wrong. A very impressive showing for this label it?s certainly not far off the quality of the Grand Vin this vintage while displaying a very different personality. It goes to show how Les Forts is no longer a ?second label? per se for Latour having developed a unique individual signature. The fruit sources are mainly dedicated Pauillac plots owned by Latour and a little declassified fruit from the hallowed l?Enclos. Notably this was the last year for Cabernet Franc which is a minor component in Les Forts de Latour this year. The last of Latour?s Cabernet Franc was pulled out at the end of 2017.
Wine Spectator: 93 Points
Bright and fresh featuring floral cassis and plum aromas and flavors allied to a sleek iron-tinged frame. Racy tension through the finish lets the fruit play out while the minerality blossoms. Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2038.
Jane Anson: 93 Points
A floral curl on the first nose this is an attractive and sappy Forts de Latour with a fine elegant almost chalky aspect to the tannins. Thoroughly charming raspberry and blackberry fruit fresh earth cocoa power and slate with a mouthwatering finish. An elegant feel to this more evolved than in bigger vintages at the six year stage although still with clear architecture to the tannins. As you sit with it you start to realise just how carefully it is gripping on through the palate and how fine a wine it is. As with many in Pauillac Latour found the September rains of 2017 challenging and two of the plots normally used for the main estate wine are in Forts this year. 6.7% press wine. Hélène Genin techincal director harvest September 11 to October 4.
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