Les Forts de Latour 2014

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Forts de Latour 2014 from Château Latour

Tasting

Appearance
This wine displays a deep colour, shifting between dark ruby and intense garnet, with hints already visible at the rim, a sign of fine bottle development.

Nose
The nose is complex and expressive, driven by aromas of blackcurrant and ripe dark fruit, combined with notes of graphite, tobacco and cedar. With aeration, more tertiary nuances of leather, forest floor and truffle enrich the aromatic palette.

Palate
The palate is structured by firm yet ripe tannins, supported by a lively acidity that brings freshness and tension. It carries through to a long, saline and slightly ferrous finish, revealing a terroir of character.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine is ideally paired with red meats such as beef or lamb, as well as rich slow-cooked dishes, where its tannic structure and freshness balance the fat and umami. It also pairs beautifully with mature cheeses, whose deep flavours it highlights.

Serving and Cellaring

Les Forts de Latour 2014 benefits from decanting to soften its tannins and fully reveal its bouquet. Conceived as a true wine for ageing, it is part of the late-release strategy adopted by the estate, which releases its wines once they have reached a stage of maturity considered optimal.

A Structured Pauillac from the Terroir of Château Latour

The Estate

Château Latour is a Premier Grand Cru Classé of the Pauillac appellation, in the Médoc, in Bordeaux, recognised as such in the 1855 classification. The estate, which extends over 96.5 hectares, including the 47 hectares of the Enclos, is today owned by Artémis Domaines, a company controlled by the Pinault family. Technical and general management is overseen by Hélène Génin. The entire vineyard has been certified organic since 2018, with part of it farmed biodynamically.

The Vineyard

The grapes for this wine come from several sources within the Pauillac vineyard: plots located on the edge of the Enclos, some of which may potentially be destined for the Grand Vin, as well as lieux-dits such as Piñada, Petit Batailley and Sainte-Anne, where the vines have an average age of around 40 years, complemented by plots located in Artigues. These terroirs rest on gravel and clay soils typical of the Médoc.

Vinification and Ageing

This Les Forts de Latour 2014 is crafted with a level of care comparable to that given to the Grand Vin, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. It is aged in 50 to 60% new oak barrels, slightly less than for the Grand Vin, while the proportion of Merlot in the blend is traditionally higher. The wine is released in line with the late-release strategy adopted by the estate.

Grape Varieties

This blend is composed of approximately 71.4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28.6% Merlot.