2011 Forts de Latour
By Chateau Latour
2011 Forts de Latour from Chateau Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux
In the pantheon of Bordeaux's prestigious labels, the 2011 Forts de Latour from Chateau Latour emerges as a testament to the resilience and adaptive craft synonymous with Pauillac. This particular vintage stands as a beacon of complexity and poise, reflective of a year that tested winemakers' mettle.
Weathering the Storm: A Vintage Carved by Contrast
The 2011 season in Pauillac was not without its vicissitudes; an early bud break undertaken by a particularly arid summer culminated in a staggered harvest. What might have threatened lesser vineyards became an opportunity for Chateau Latour, where meticulous vinification processes married toughness with refinement in a bottle.
The result is the 2011 Forts de Latour, where a precarious vintage distilled its influence through a blend of rich tannins and tenacious fruit. Plums and blackcurrants fuse with subtle eucalyptus notes to command the palate, while whispers of pencil lead evoke the classic Pauillac minerality.
Investment Mettle Meets Delectable Metal
For collectors and investors drawn to the annals of fine wine exploits, the 2011 Forts de Latour offers an intriguing chapter. Its resilience in less-than-ideal climatic conditions underscores Chateau Latour's unwavering commitment to excellence, conveying not just exceptional drinking potential but an assured longevity that will reward patient capital.
Even in its relative youth, this vintage exudes sophisticated grace – an immersive narrative of dark fruits entwined with oak-derived complexities and an enduring finish that secures its place amongst judiciously curated cellars.
In summation, the 2011 Forts de Latour encapsulates an emblematic display of crafted resilience. For those intent on diversifying their portfolio with a wine exemplifying both poise amidst adversity and promising maturation horizons, this offering from Chateau Latour is not just compelling but an astute addition – reflecting the gravitas that only fine Pauillac can bestow upon discerning investors and connoisseurs alike.
Current market price
$2,940.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
160
Scores and tasting notes
The Les Forts de Latour is a blend of 61.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It has a strict, clinical bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, crushed stone and a strong graphite seam. The palate is very precise on the entry, a little grainy in texture with fine minerality. It is unashamedly classic, nothing out of place, a second wine with its shirt tucked in and its tie done right up to the collar...and I like it for that. Tasted April 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2012
The 2011 Les Forts de Latour has a very refined bouquet, understated at first but gaining intensity in the glass with an attractive estuarine tincture developing and complementing the black fruit. Later on, there is a trademark touch of Pauillac mintiness coupled with black olives. The palate is medium-bodied with juicy ripe tannin and very good weight in the mouth, the fruit profile leaning more towards the red side of the spectrum than black. This feels lithe and supple in the mouth, fleshy and generous with a smooth finish that slips down the throat. Enjoy this now and over the next 15-20 years. Tasted March 2017.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 31 May 2017
One of the finest second wines now being made, Les Forts de Latour comes from the same parcel every year. The 2011 is composed of 61.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38.5% Merlot. Forty-three percent of the Latour production was relegated to this cuvee. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, underbrush, licorice and incense. Medium to full-bodied, deep, fleshy and already appealing, this 2011 should gain complexity over the next 5-7 years, and last for 15-20. By the way, Latour harvested relatively late for the Medoc, beginning the harvest on September 12 and finishing on September 26.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #200
Aromas of dried berries and fresh herbs such as lemongrass. Full body with firm, chewy tannins and a chocolate, pie-crust, berry and mineral character. A little salty and mineral. Needs at least five to six years.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, February 19th 2014