The 2016 Chateau Latour is a Bordeaux Blend hailing from the esteemed Pauillac region of France. Characterized by a composition of 92.9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7.1% Merlot, this vintage has garnered significant attention for its depth and complexity.
In a series of remarkable reviews, several critics have lauded this wine with perfect scores. Jeb Dunnuck refers to the 2016 Chateau Latour as a wine that "has lively acids, a pure, seamless, layered mouthfeel," and describes it as possessing the "rare Latour mix of power, austerity, and elegance." Similarly, The Wine Independent praises the wine's "deep garnet-purple color" and notes that it is "like an atomic bomb waiting to go off," highlighting its tightly wound black fruits and mineral layers.
Decanter describes the wine as "monumental," emphasizing its complex nose filled with an array of aromas, including pencil lead, crayon, and tobacco. The palate is noted for its "generous and controlled" nature, with a long, mineral-driven finish. Vinous also celebrates this vintage, stating that it "can be uttered in the same breath as the 1900, 1924, 1959, 1961, 1982, and 2010," highlighting its "beguiling symmetry and ineffable poise."
James Suckling finds the wine's nose "amazing" and notes its "stellar balance," while Wine Enthusiast underscores its "great structure and power," predicting a long aging potential. Wine Spectator, while awarding it a slightly lower score of 98, praises its sleekness and balance, likening it to a "Calder sculpture."
However, not all reviews are entirely glowing. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, while acknowledging the wine's intensity, suggests it may lack some precision and purity expected of a first growth in such a vintage.
Overall, the 2016 Chateau Latour is highly regarded, with multiple critics awarding it perfect scores and noting its potential for longevity and evolution in the bottle.