Chateau Latour   Latour

2001 Latour

By Chateau Latour

2001 Latour from Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Turning to the esteemed 2001 vintage in Bordeaux, we discover a year defined by a challenging start and a superb finish - the conditions leading to an ample display of winemaking prowess at Château Latour. The 2001 Latour holds a particularly special place in the compendium of fine wines, showcasing the alchemy of time-honoured techniques with nature's fickle fortunes.

 

Investment-Worthy Elegance

The investment landscape for fine wines appreciates consistency and resilience, and the 2001 Latour, nurtured on the Left Bank’s regal soils, delivers precisely that. The culmination of a less heralded vintage stands as a testament to the finesse inherent within the walls of Château Latour. Finding equilibrium between power and elegance, this Pauillac has gracefully entered its plateau of maturity – an asset that continues to enchant collectors and investors alike.

 

A Year of Effort and Reward

Fresh from an exceptional start to the millennium, Bordeaux was challenged by capricious weather patterns through 2001. Yet, it's under such duress that the true merit of a vineyard and its custodians is measured. Pauillac's deep gravel soils and the temperate microclimate harnessed the year’s oddities, ripening Cabernet Sauvignon to perfection – the backbone of Château Latour’s well-muscled offering.

The wine proffers layers of complexity: blackcurrant suffused with earthy truffle hints and a whisper of tobacco. Fine-grained tannins lay the groundwork for a beautifully structured palate that interlaces dense fruit with mineral vigor. A long and assured finish affirms its pedigree.

For those possessed of discernment and patience in equal measure, laying down or embracing a bottle—or case—of 2001 Latour is to indulge in Bordeaux's rich narrative. Joining its narrative are those astute enthusiasts whose cellars will be graced with a consummate expression from a vintage that demanded nothing less than excellence from vine to bottle.

 

Concluding Reflections on Investment Fulfilment

The 2001 Latour mirrors not merely the sumptuous contours of this renowned terroir but also echoes the resilience in face of adversity emblematic of Château Latour’s philosophy. Finesse lingers on in each glass long past its consummation - a perpetual reminder that some years don’t shout their prominence; they affirm it gradually, like a secret shared between connoisseurs over time. As an asset for investment, it stands as one of demonstrable providence and profound pleasure, thus meriting keen consideration for both current enjoyment and future enrichment.

Current market price

$8,390.00

12x75cl

Highest score

96

POP score

315

Scores and tasting notes

96

Tasted blind at the chateau, the 2001 continues to be an exceptional wine, one of the finest in the vintage. It has a wonderful, graphite-tinged nose that unfurls beautifully with blackberry and touch of dried orange peel with more noticeable cigar box aromas than I have noticed before. The palate displays superb definition with fine but rigid tannins and crisp acidity. It is not a powerful Latour, but one that is very refined and controlled. In another ten years, it will be ranked against the 2000 and who knows, it may even match it. Outstanding. Tasted June 2011.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2012

95

A brilliant offering, which should be drinkable much earlier than the blockbuster 2000, the 2001 Latour boasts an inky/ruby/purple color to the rim as well as a glorious bouquet of black currants, crushed stones, vanilla, and hints of truffles and oak. A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance primarily Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it reveals a sweetness on the palate that is atypical for such a young Latour. The beautiful integration of tannin, acidity, and wood is stunning. The wine flows across the palate with fabulous texture, purity, and presence. This luscious, full-bodied Latour was surprisingly open-knit on the three occasions I tasted it from bottle. However, do not mistake its aging ability as this 2001, despite its precociousness, will last 20-25 years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 June 2004

Vintage performance