CHATEAU LATOUR 1er Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 1998 Bottle

Description

The 1998 Château Latour has received significant acclaim, highlighted by 96 points from Decanter, where Charles Curtis MW remarked on its surprising openness and approachability. The wine features a smoky, roasted nose with black plum and fig fruit, complemented by hints of leather and ground coffee. Its texture is surprisingly soft yet substantial, indicating it drinks well now and may last another 10 to 15 years, though it may not be suited for long-term ageing. Vinous awarded it 92 points, noting its open-knit bouquet of black fruit, iron, and autumn leaves, along with a rustic charm compared to more recent vintages. The medium-bodied palate is well-balanced, showcasing brambly red berry fruit and a salty tang, making it a delightful choice for the next decade.

*****

DECANTER 96 points
Tasted by: Charles Curtis MW
(at Atlanta, 01 Mar 2022)
Part of Château Latour: 1990-2010 vertical tasting
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2042
As with many of the wines from 1998 that I have tasted recently, the Latour was surprisingly open and approachable. Today the wine has a smoky, almost roasted nose with black plum and fig fruit, hints of smoke, leather, and an undercurrent of ground coffee. The texture is surprisingly open and soft but not falling apart. It is drinking well today and doubtless will hold for another 10 to 15 years but is probably not one for long-term ageing. The spring and the growing season were hot and dry, and although there was rain at harvest the grapes were able to resist rot and dilution due to their thick skins.

VINOUS 92 points

The 1998 Latour was in fact the first vintage I ever tasted en primeur at the château. It was an early vintage after budburst on 20 March and the picking began on 20 September until 5 October, the Grand Vin a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot (compared to around 9% these days), 4% Cabernet Franc 1% Petit Verdot. It has an open-knit bouquet with notes of black fruit, iron, undergrowth and autumn leaves. You cannot help noticing its rusticity compared to present-day Latour. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced, a tang of soy marking the entry, brambly red berry fruit and an almost Graves-like, tertiary, slightly short finish. It is a mid-weight Latour, one that I cannot envisage improving further but it will cruise at this level for the next decade. Tasted at the château. - Neal Martin