Château Latour-Martillac 2020

Aromatics shaped by maturation; high extract, yet with first-class quality and precision of the tannins; the alcohol is noticeable without dominating; the finish is particularly fruity and fresh. Among the best wines ever tasted here.

Juicy and compact, with a solid core of dark currant and blackberry fruit waiting to unfurl, while sweet tobacco, tar and bittersweet cocoa notes flash around. Reveals a light cedary thread on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2033. 9,350 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Crunchy with real bite, this is both juicy and ripe but also clean and crisp with quite a narrow, tense core of fruit and freshness. It’s well worked, great texture and push. Perhaps lacking a bit in complexity or nuance, still quite streamlined and focused - less expansive and expressive at this point but good intensity and structure. Powdery tannins, crushed stone texture. Just stops a little short and feels a bit potent.

Pristine dark berries with chocolate, black licorice, nut shell and graphite. Some wet stones, too. Full and muscular with an array of well-grained, meaty tannins that unfold seamlessly throughout the bold, dark-fruited palate. So much going on here. Long length with a creamy, chocolaty finish. Try after 2026.

Perfectly ripe, dark red and black fruits are everywhere here. What makes them even better are additional nuances of orange rind, flowers, smoke, cocoa, and dried flowers. As good as the nose is, it’s on the palate that it truly shines, with layers of silky, sensuous, ripe, fruit-filled waves of flavor that just won’t quit. This is absolutely delicious today, but with patience, it’s only going to get better and better with age. This could be the best vintage of LaTour Martillac ever produced! Drink from 2025–2048.

Dark ruby with purple reflections, a dark core, and subtly lighter at the rim. Candied orange zest, some liquorice and ripe plum, hints of vanilla and oak. Juicy, ripe cherry, lively structure, ripe tannins, delicately chocolaty. The wine is elegant and persistent, showing length and definite ageing potential.

Still in a youthful and restrained phase, but showing nice purity of fruit and a dense structure, fine tannins, savoury dark fruit and good length; it certainly needs time to open, but has fine potential.

Another beautiful Pessac from 2020, the 2020 Château Latour-Martillac has a textbook bouquet of smoky red and black fruits, spring flowers, truffly earth, and smoked tobacco. With a lush, round, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, it has ripe tannins, some classic Graves sexiness, and a great finish. It's going to benefit from 5-6 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years.

Restrained start, red-berry contours, light graphite and lingonberry purée. On the compact palate with a taut focus, a brittle texture and a sinewy body. In the encapsulated finish, red cherry, juniper and floury astringency, potential rating.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: velvety, deep, finely bitter bouquet with plum, tobacco, mocha yogurt, currants, chocolate. Balanced, elegant, powerful palate with dark fruit, good tannins, finely muscular structure, intense dark aromatics, long, powerful, slightly bitter finish. Has room to improve.

Silky, deep, delicately off-dry bouquet of plums, tobacco, mocha yogurt, currants, chocolate. Balanced, elegant, powerful palate with dark fruit, good tannins, a finely muscular structure, intense dark aromatics, long, powerful, bitter finish. Can still improve. 17/20 2025 - 2042

The tannins are pretty tight and closed in right now, but they cradle real depth of flavour: blueberry, cassis, tobacco, raspberry leaf and a touch of green tomato leaf on the finish. Aromatic, with a gourmet swirl of cocoa bean and espresso. Yield of 38 hl/ha.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Latour-Martillac Rouge is made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. It bursts with notions of wild blueberries, blackcurrant pastilles, and candied violets, leading to hints of dark chocolate, dried herbs, and graphite. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers energetic black fruits with a racy backbone and grainy tannins, finishing with a skip in its step.

91-92

Given the precision and definition displayed in this wine, one can only note its drive to get to the heart of things and its ability to approach the 2020 vintage with clear thoughtfulness. The wine is elegant, expressive, and lively. With supportive, well-judged tannins, it underscores its excellent level and its ability to take center stage. So much energy and savor!

This Graves Grand Cru Classé has produced an elegantly rich wine. Still very young, its powerful tannins mask the black fruits and acidity. As the wine matures, fruit and richness will come forward. The wine is worth aging for many years. Drink from 2028.