The 2012 Château Latour is a blend of 90.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.6% Merlot, and 0.2% Petit Verdot. It features a deep garnet color and an intricate nose with notes of preserved cherries, blackcurrants, and blackberry compote, along with subtle hints of pencil shavings, unsmoked cigars, and spices. The palate is medium-bodied, with a firm, grainy texture, refreshing acidity, and a finish filled with lingering spices and minerals. While more restrained than some of Latour’s grander vintages, it showcases the estate’s exceptional terroir and finesse. It’s approachable now but will continue to evolve and improve over the next 20-25 years.

The Wine Advocate | RP 96+
Published: Mar 5, 2020
Drink: 2020-2050 

The 2012 Latour is a blend of 90.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.6% Merlot and 0.2% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep garnet colored, the nose slowly, measuredly emerges with notions of preserved Morello cherries, baked blackcurrants and blackberry compote, giving way to nuances of pencil shavings, unsmoked cigars, Chinese five spice and sandalwood plus ever so subtle hints of cardamom and eucalyptus. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit preserves with a firm, grainy-textured frame and fantastic freshness, finishing with a veritable firework display of lingering spices and minerals. This is a more restrained, relatively elegant vintage of Latour that may not have that 'iron fist in a velvet glove' power of the greatest vintages but nonetheless struts its superior terroir and behind-the-scenes savoir faire with impressive panache. It is drinking nicely now with suitably rounded-off, approachable tannins, and the tertiary characters are just beginning to bring some more cerebral elements into the compote of temptingly primary black fruits. But, if you?re looking to drink it in full, flamboyant swing, give it another 5-10 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20-25 years. 

Decanter | D 95
Published: Mar 3, 2022
Drink: 2027-2045

High-grade Cabernet Sauvignon that still remains a touch austere, with freshness and less polish than the Mouton Rothschild 2012 tasted at the same time, but with similar staying power. Latour’s 2011 vintage was the last that it made available via Bordeaux’s traditional en primeur system, so this 2012 was only released by the estate for the first time in May 2020.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 94
Published: Feb 9, 2015

Very perfumed with hints of minerals, currants, wet earth and stones. Full-bodied, muscular and chewy. Polished tannins, tight acidity and a savory finish. Very reserved. Muscular. Better in 2019.

 Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17.5++
Published: Mar 18, 2022
Drink: 2025-2045

The first vintage of Latour to be released many years after the en primeur campaign.
Quite reticent on the nose. A bit pinched and tough still. Minerally and stony. Go for Les Forts for current drinking.

Chateau-latour.com

Château Latour’s Grand Vin is made exclusively from “vieilles vignes”, an average of 60 years-old, in the Enclos. Gravettes, Sarmentier, Pièce de Château... these are the names of some of the finest plots that express the character of the terroir and forge the wine’s identity every year.

The heart of the Enclos is the only terroir that, every year, can produce the depth, elegance and concentration that we expect of the Grand Vin. It is here that the Cabernet Sauvignon (accounting for more than 90% of the blend) can achieve optimal expression in terms of colour, richness and freshness. These wines need time - often a decade- before they begin to be ready for drinking.

In great vintages, the power and energy of Château Latour's wines enables them to continue to develop for several decades with ease. The bouquet and impressions on tasting gradually evolve, becoming increasingly complex, ultimately reaching a peak, after which the tannins soften and then the wine slowly declines. Beyond the pleasure of drinking them, these wines can produce powerful feelings and unforgettable moments.

Château Latour is also known for having the ability to produce fine wines even in difficult years.

2012 Wine style - The colour is dark with a beautiful intensity.The nose is fruity, refined, ripe and extremely expressive. On the palate, the wine is rounded and smooth, spicy and very aromatic. It evolves pleasurably towards a delicious finale with fine tannins.