CHATEAU LATOUR 1990

Pauillac

1er cru classé Médoc 1855

France - Bordeaux - Vin rouge (Red Wine)

75 cl - 12,5% vol.

Parker n° 129 (26/06/2000) : 96/100

2005-2030

Perhaps I should have retasted this wine from my cellar, as it did not reveal the depth of the 1996, 1995, or 1982. It is a beauty, but not the awesome blockbuster I remembered. A dark ruby/purple color does not possess the saturation found in vintages such as 1995 and 1996. There is a roasted, earthy, hot year character with extremely low acidity, fleshy, seductive, opulently-textured flavors, and a full-bodied finish with considerable amounts of glycerin and tannin. The wine was sweet, accessible, and seductive on the attack, but it closed down in the mouth. Interestingly, when I previously tasted this wine (about six months ago) from a bottle in my cellar, I found it to be impenetrable, needing at least 6-10 years of further cellaring. Based on this example from the Chateau's cellar, it could be drunk now. In any event, it will last 25-30 years, but is it the immortal classic many observers, including myself, thought it was?

Wine Spectator (30/06/2001) : 99/100

Very dark amber. Port-like nose, with loads of plum, meat, [i]sous-bois[n] and tobacco aromas. Full-bodied, velvety and beautiful. Like cashmere. Greatest modern Latour and one of the all-time great Bordeaux.

F.DUBOURDIEU : 97/100 2010-2040

Michael BROADBENT'S "Vintage Wine" :

Fewer notes. Tasted at the chateau the same day as Lafite, the contrast was marked. Not an attractive and easy style the April after the vintage. Big and Black; severe; teeth blackening; very tannic. "magnificent" in 1993. At the MW tasting of 90s a year later, its nose has developped well; on the palate surprisingly sweet. In 1996, however, at the eigensatz marathon. I noted its opaqueness and intensity; its full body and its raw tannin and acid finish. Yet that year later, tasted also blind, at the Rodenstock dinner alongside the other first growths, its bouquet I noted as earthy and spicy, opening up beautifully. Despite its tannin it had a delicious flavour, by no means th mammoth I would have expected. Most recently, also alongside all the first growths, I noted it has having wonderful depth and resonance; a classic cedary pauillac nose; some ripe sweetness, full flavored, leathery tannic texture, good length and dry finish. June 2000 ****(*) 2010-2030