The **2019 Latour Martillac** is a Bordeaux blend from the renowned Pessac Léognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. Comprising 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot, this red wine is aged in French oak barrels, 40% of which are new. With an alcohol content of 14.5%, this wine promises a robust and sophisticated profile.
James Suckling awarded this wine a score of 95, praising its "sweet berry, spice, tobacco and dried rose-petal aromas." He describes it as "full-bodied with beautifully integrated tannins and a creamy, polished texture," adding that it is "refined and complex." Suckling considers it "one of the best young bottles ever from here" and suggests it will be even better after 2025.
Jeb Dunnuck gave the 2019 Latour Martillac an excellent score of 96, noting its "dense ruby/plum color" and "gorgeous bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherry, smoked tobacco, gravely earth, and chocolate." Dunnuck highlights its "full-bodied richness, round, layered mouthfeel, supple tannins," and a finish that he describes as "one heck of a finish." He advises that it will "cruise for 25+ years in cold cellars" but needs "plenty of air if drinking any time soon."
**Decanter**, with a score of 92, mentions a "hint of ripe sweetness to the fruit on the nose" and "good depth and some sculpted full fruit on the palate - blackcurrant and black cherries." However, they also point out that the "oak spicing is still seriously apparent," which "blocks a lot of the exuberance at this stage." They describe it as a "powerful wine, big shouldered with lots of potential but a little hidden underneath tannins and oak right now."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated it 94, commending its "alluring scents of kirsch, Black Forest cake and warm cassis plus hints of lavender, forest floor, iron ore, and tree bark." Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "medium-bodied, elegant and refreshing," with "layers of black berries and mineral notions" and a "finely grained frame and lifted finish."
Vinous, scoring it 93, notes that the wine has "ample blackberry, cedar, black olive and light marine scents on the nose." Neal Martin finds the palate to be "medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, quite fleshy but still nicely structured," and praises its "fine backbone on the sappy, white-pepper- and sage-tinged finish."
Jane Anson, also scoring it 94, describes the wine as having a "rich ruby red colour" with "muscular tannins that let juice run through them." She highlights its "savoury fruits, cocoa bean, liquorice root and cigar box," and emphasizes that it is "ready for ageing for a good few decades."
Overall, the 2019 Latour Martillac is highly regarded by critics for its complex aromas, rich flavors, and excellent aging potential.