The 2016 Pauillac de Chateau Latour is a Bordeaux Blend composed of 54.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38.9% Merlot, and the remainder Petit Verdot. This wine, produced in the Pauillac sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is the entry-level offering from the esteemed Chateau Latour estate. The wine has an alcohol content of 13.0%.
Jeb Dunnuck describes this wine as having a "gorgeous Pauillac nose of blackcurrants, lead pencil shavings, graphite, tobacco, and damp earth." He praises its medium to full-bodied texture and suggests it has the potential to evolve for another two decades. Dunnuck's review highlights the quality of the 2016 vintage and the classic Latour character, noting that it is more upfront and charming.
Decanter's review echoes the sentiment of a high-quality vintage, describing the wine as "delicious" with clear notes of blackberry bud and liquorice root. The review emphasizes the wine's good levels of acidity, freshness, and sinew. Decanter calls attention to the generous fruit beneath the prevalent tannins, recommending it for drinking between 2021 and 2032.
James Suckling awards the wine a score of 94, noting its "mineral, crushed stone, iodine and graphite" characteristics, along with blackcurrants and blackberries. Suckling highlights the ultra-fine tannins that give the wine length and energy, suggesting it is drinkable now but will be even better in 2023.
Vinous describes the 2016 Pauillac de Chateau Latour as a "compelling, sumptuous wine" with flavors of black cherry, graphite, licorice, spice, and leather. The review praises the wine's floral overtones and notes its lighter structure compared to other wines from the château, but still considers it first class.
Wine Spectator notes the wine's "fresh and juicy" nature, with flavors of red and black currant preserves, complemented by light graphite and iron notes. The finish is described as nicely focused, with mouthwatering bay leaf accents and savory hints. Wine Spectator suggests the best drinking window is from 2022 to 2032.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate offers a slightly more reserved score of 90, with reviewer William Kelley noting attractive aromas of cassis, cherries, pencil shavings, and subtle hints of classy new oak. Kelley describes the wine as medium-bodied, lively, and succulent, with powdery tannins mostly concealed by a demonstrative core of fruit. He points out that this wine is made in a juicier, lighter-bodied style than Les Forts and the grand vin itself, providing considerable pleasure right out of the gates.
Overall, the 2016 Pauillac de Chateau Latour is a well-regarded wine with a balance of fruit, tannins, and classic Bordeaux characteristics, suitable for both immediate enjoyment and longer-term aging.