The 2005 Les Forts de Latour is a Bordeaux Blend from the Pauillac sub-region of Bordeaux, France. Produced by Les Forts de Latour, this wine stands out as an exceptional second wine, often considered to rival classified growths. It is made from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, with an alcohol content of 13.0%.
Wine Spectator awarded it a score of 94, praising its "blackberry coffee cedar and raisin on the nose turning to licorice and fresh flowers," and describing it as "full-bodied with refined silky tannins and a long finish." The publication also noted its balanced and juicy nature, with a powerful finish.
Wine Enthusiast also gave it high praise with a score of 92, emphasizing its equivalence to many classed growths. The review highlighted its "lively fresh acidity, dense tannins and ripe, juicy black fruits," and noted that the acidity persists until the end.
James Suckling echoed similar sentiments, awarding the wine a score of 94 and describing it as "very classy with plenty of raspberry, currant, and licorice character." He advised letting it age for at least two or three years to fully appreciate its dense and compacted palate.
Wine & Spirits gave it a slightly lower but still commendable score of 91, pointing out that it took four days for the wine to reveal its true character. Initially dark and dry, it eventually displayed "juicy red and black currant fruit underlined by pleasantly bitter chocolate tannin."
Neal Martin's Wine Journal rated it 93, noting its complex bouquet of "blackberries, wild strawberry and floral scents" and describing the palate as "medium-bodied with fine tannin, almost symmetrical in the mouth with great precision and intensity towards the finish."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also scored it 93, highlighting its "loads of blackcurrant fruit, earth, and spice" and calling it "extremely pure, broad, savory, and quite expensive." Parker described it as a "fabulous second wine" that could last for the next 20+ years.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com gave it a score of 92, describing the wine as "ruby in color, with cedar wood, earth, forest and blackberry" and noting its "soft, fresh, cassis filled" character.
In conclusion, the 2005 Les Forts de Latour is a well-balanced, complex wine with high praise from multiple reviewers, making it a standout choice for those seeking a high-quality Bordeaux blend.
