The 1996 Chateau Latour is a Bordeaux blend from the Pauillac sub-region in Bordeaux, France. Produced by the esteemed Chateau Latour, this red wine showcases the classic characteristics of its region and vintage. With an alcohol content of 12.5% and sealed with a cork closure, this wine has been praised by several reviewers for its complexity and aging potential.
Wine Spectator awarded the 1996 Chateau Latour a score of 96, noting its "fabulous aromas of crushed raspberries, plums, and blackberries" and describing the nose as "mind-blowing." The publication recommends patience, advising that the wine is best enjoyed after 2010. The wine is full-bodied, with "soft and silky tannins" and a "long caressing finish" (Wine Spectator, 1/1/2007).
Neal Martin's Wine Journal also lauded the wine, giving it a score of 95. Martin highlighted its conservative nose with "sultry aromas of blackberry, tar, cedar, and graphite," comparing it to the 2003 vintage but noting it to be "leaner and less intense." The palate is described as "medium-bodied with great definition and freshness," with a touch of smoke and black truffle on the "austere finish" (Neal Martin's Wine Journal, 3/1/2012).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated it similarly with 95 points, emphasizing its "youthful, tightly wound" nature. The tasting notes include "blackcurrants, loamy soil, cigar wrapper, and English walnuts." The wine is "medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated," built around ripe tannins and bright acidity, with a long, penetrating finish. The wine is expected to age well, with a long future ahead (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 3/1/2022).
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com gave an excellent review, scoring it 98 points. He praised the wine's aromatic profile of "cedar, mint, cigar box, spice, currants, and graphite," and described the palate as "balanced, spicy, vibrant, and multi-layered." He suggested that the wine is about to go up in score and recommended a drinking window from 2024 to 2055 (TheWineCellarInsider.com, 1/13/2024).
Meanwhile, James Suckling offered a slightly different perspective, rating it 94 points. He noted the "basil leaf, lemon grass, and sage aromas with currant undertones," describing the body as "medium" with "fine tannins and a fresh finish" (jamessuckling.com, 7/1/2016).
Decanter also provided an excellent review with a score of 98 points, describing the wine as "inky black even at 25 years old." They highlighted its "chewy tannins," "ripples of cassis, bilberry and blackberry fruits," and "olive paste, charcoal, and eucalyptus." The review praises its "austerity and power," indicating it's a great moment to start enjoying its promise, with decades of potential ahead (Decanter, 1/4/2021).
Overall, the 1996 Chateau Latour is celebrated for its complexity, aging potential, and balanced profile, making it a standout vintage from this renowned producer.