The nose showed warm and sunny, baked black and red fruit on the nose and a supple but dense texture. The impressive level of tannin noted in earlier tastings is softening now, and the wine is ready to drink but will hold. A lovely wine, outperforming the 1996 at this point. Picking was finished in September, taking place from the 13th to the 27th. The final blend is nearly three-quarters Cabernet Sauvignon, with just a drop of Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot and Merlot for the balance.

It has been close to a decade since I last this wine. The time in the cellar has added a lot here. Still youthful, some secondary characteristics have started appearing. Now you find cigar wrapper, creme de cassis, oyster shell, smoke, forest floor, cranberry, and red plums. Full-bodied, powerful, tannic, and with a gentle austerity, there is a firmness in the finish that works perfectly with all the layers of ripe, crisp, red berries. 2 hours in the decanter works well here. Drink from 2025-2065.

Deep garnet-brick in color, the nose is well developed, displaying dried berry, leather, vanilla pod and anise notes with a faint whiff of potpourri. The palate is wonderfully fleshy and opulent with velvety, approachable tannins and a long finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Still concentrated and powerful, you could mistake this for a 1996 with its confidence muscular structure and dark spicy fruits. Just beginning to show truffle, mushroom and smoked earth as it unrolls in the palate, a thoroughly enjoyable wine. This was 2nd vintage under current director Frederic Engerer, harvest September 15 to 27, touch of rain during harvest after hot and dry summer, with three times less rain than average during June, July, August. In 1855, Latour was in the hands of the de Beaumont family, descendants of the long term de Ségur, who had arrived in 1670.