Chateau Latour Pauillac 2014 750ml
SKU: RDFR20140988
Château Latour Pauillac 2014 is a magnificent expression of one of Bordeaux’s greatest First Growth estates, showcasing the power, precision, and longevity that define Latour. Awarded 97 points by critics, this exceptional vintage reveals aromas of cassis, wild berries, black truffle, cigar box, wet earth, cedar, and subtle spice. Rich and concentrated yet beautifully balanced, the palate delivers a deep core of dark fruit, fine chalky tannins, vibrant acidity, and remarkable length. A classically structured Pauillac with extraordinary finesse and ageing potential through 2065, the 2014 Latour is a compelling choice for serious collectors.
The Wine Advocate | RP 97+
Published: Mar 15, 2022
Drink: 2028-2065
The 2014 Latour is one of the very finest wines of a vintage that favored the northern Médoc. Mingling aromas of wild berries and cassis with hints of cigar wrapper, loamy soil, black truffles and classy new oak, it’s full-bodied, rich and concentrated, its broad attack segueing into a deep, tightly wound mid-palate that’s framed by powdery, chalky tannins and bright acids, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. This classically balanced, youthfully structured young wine looks set to enjoy prodigious longevity. It’s reminiscent of a modern-day version of a cooler vintage such as 1996, though of course these days maturity is more complete and selection even more rigorous than was the case two decades ago.
With Château Latour's new releases for the year arriving on the market in the next few days, I took the opportunity to taste the wines with the estate's perfectionist technical director Hélène Génin on my most recent visit. I'll be including more insights into Latour's contemporary viticulture and winemaking—as well as some observations on what makes Latour's famous enclos so special—in my report on the bottled 2019s. This short article, in the interests of timeliness, is limited to the tasting notes themselves. As those notes make clear, between the expressive, charming 2017 Le Pauillac de Château Latour; the concentrated, impeccably balanced 2016 Les Forts de Latour; and the deep, introverted, utterly classical 2014 Latour itself, admirers of this estate will find three excellent wines that are cut from very different cloth, and all three are more than worthy of attention.
James Suckling | JS 97
Published: Mar 8, 2022
This has aromas of black fruit, olives, wet earth, dried lavender, cloves and bark. Bitter chocolate and walnuts, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Structured, with great freshness and length. Cedar notes on the lighter mid-palate. Still a little tight and chewy. Try from 2024.
Decanter | D 96
Published: Nov 8, 2021
Drink: 2024-2049
Reddish purple rim. Expressive on the nose; cocoa powder, truffle, soft spices, blackcurrant pastilles, black cherries and mint - the best Cabernet aromatics. Great delicacy here, this is so poised and elegant, a touch of soft sweetness to the red and black fruits. Tannins fill the mouth but this is well handled, less plump and round, more direct and linear but with a beautiful fragrance, delicacy and texture that fills the mouth but gently. Still so much juice and freshness as well as softly cooling mint tones. The fresh, vibrant flavour makes you think you could drink it now but it's only the tannins that suggest it needs longer. Still, it's lovely, with such well placed fruit flavours that hits all sides of the mouth and lingers long after the finish.
Jancis Robinson | JR 18
Published: Feb 8, 2024
Drink: 2028-2048
Tasted blind. Deep, youthful garnet. Rich dark fruit, fragrant even though it is ripe, suggestion of cigar-box spice. Really fine tannins, beautifully dry but not drying. Extreme elegance. Refined power, the layered, paper-fine tannins still resolving. Julia Harding MW