2005 Latour
By Chateau Latour
2005 Latour from Chateau Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 2005 vintage in Bordeaux remains etched in the annals of vinous history as one of precision and balance, and the 2005 Latour from Chateau Latour is incontrovertibly a towering example of this. Each tasting I have conducted reaffirms its status as not merely a wine but a profound expression of Pauillac's might.
Unveiling the Tapestry of Pauillac Terroir
Chateau Latour's ability to articulate the nuances of its Pauillac terroir is legendary. The 2005 vintage lies at a remarkable intersection of circumstance; it benefitted from a growing season that was almost ideologically perfect. The cooler, drier August, following an optimally warm summer, converged to give grapes of exceptional phenolic maturity juxtaposed with invigorating acidity—a combination that makes wine investors' hearts beat faster.
An Exemplar for the Cellar
The profound character of the 2005 Latour is inscribed on its intense bouquet—a cavalcade of crushed blackberry, cigar box, and the scent of the lauded Gironde estuary itself. On the palate, one finds an opulent spread of dark fruits harmoniously interlaced with tannins that are adamantine in their structure yet woven with silk-like grace. This power coupled with finesse knits an investment-worthy narrative that assures both longevity and escalating reverence over time.
To hold a glass of the 2005 Latour is to clutch Bordeaux's beating heart. Charismatic upon release, this vintage has transcended into a more complex realm through years of careful maturation, revealing subtleties that flicker like stars in an enophile's firmament—a testament to the cellar craftsmanship at Chateau Latour.
In Vino Veritas
Evaluating the pedigree of this wine for astute fine wine investors begs one to consider not merely its formidability upon release but its evolutionary journey. Now showing layers that hint at dark truffles and earthy undergrowth—whilst maintaining a fruit core glistening with vibrancy—the 2005 Latour stands ready to enchant palates while enriching portfolios. Each lingering sip promises to unfurl new chapters well into the coming decades, securing its en prime place among the venerable legacies of Bordeaux.
Current market price
$13,274.46
12x75cl
Highest score
100
POP score
398.8
Scores and tasting notes
A very complex nose of lavender, currants, spices, and hot stones. Full and dense on the palate, with a very tight structure. The tannins have a perfect polish to their density, and the finish is very intense, with wonderful fruit and truffle character. This turns almost decadent, with tremendous energy and a constantly changing profile. This is a very challenging wine to get to know, please leave this for at least ten years. Pull the cork in 2015.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, February 4th 2011
Served blind at the chateau. This is just a beautiful Latour that stood out when tasted blind, even amongst the 2000 and 2005. It just has a beautiful bouquet that has a level of purity that may not have been achieved before although initially it is quite subdued. The palate is full-bodied with a tannic entry, a sense of symmetry at play here, enthralling length and harmony. This is a legend in the making. Tasted December 2009.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2011
2005 was a very dry, warm and sunny vintage, causing vine stress in some areas of Bordeaux. Harvested from September 26 to October 6, the tannin/IPT levels were very high this year. The 2005 Latour is blended of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is the biggest surprise of this tasting—until now, the wine was relatively closed and broody, but today the wine is just starting to reveal its personality—and what a stunner! Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with provocative floral scents of roses and violets over a core of fresh blackcurrants, chocolate-covered cherries and black raspberries with hints of fertile loam, unsmoked cigars and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and packed with muscular fruit, it has an epically long, savory finish sparked by floral notes. 12,000 cases were made.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 28 February 2019
Only 44% of the production made it into the dense ruby/purple-hued 2005 Latour, a powerful, backward, 12,000-case blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Petit Verdot and Merlot. As I wrote last year, this classic effort is built for the ages, and is largely destined to be drunk by our offspring rather than anyone over the age of 50 today. Complex aromas of crushed rocks, graphite, black cherries, creme de cassis, new saddle leather, and dried mushrooms are still tightly wound. The wine is full-bodied and powerful with exceptionally high tannin combined with zesty acidity, and laser-like focus. It will require 15 or more years of cellaring. I still prefer the 2003, but administrator Frederic Engerer says this “is more Latour.” Anticipated maturity: 2020-2060.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #176 April 2008