The 2005 Latour is made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it gallops out of the glass with incredibly youthful, powerful creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves scents, followed by wafts of violets, licorice, eucalyptus, and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, super-concentrated, and energetic in the mouth, it has a rock-solid structure of firm, beautifully ripe tannins and so many layers, finishing on a long, lingering anise note. While it is beautifully open and expressive at the moment, it remains incredibly primary and therefore could be a disappointment for those seeking a more evolved, tertiary experience. I would give it another 5-7 years in bottle, at least, knowing this will likely cellar to 2070 and beyond.

How rare to confront a wine of this inner strength and perfect form. Grown at a 116-acre vineyard at the southern border of Pauillac, some of the vines now reaching 100 years of age on a gravel bar overlooking the Gironde, Latour harvests cabernet sauvignon with natural power. I could describe it as colors, from glistening ruby to purple-black then back to scarlet tannins that vibrate in red. Or just the pure, unadulterated flavor of black currant, unformed as a child is unformed, beautiful as a child is beautiful. However I might describe it, the wine is stronger than I am and will outlast me by decades. This is the most provocative and most brilliant Latour I have tasted on release.

A great wine, the summation of a great vintage in Bordeaux. The core of richness, the dense, bone-dry tannins, the black currants, red berries and black plum skins are the elements, but it's the way they have been integrated that makes this such an impressive wine. There is great elegance as well, a fabulous counterpoint to such power. Cellar for at least 15 years, but this will keep forever.

Very open and beautiful now with currants, light chocolate and spices. Incense as well. Full-bodied, tight and reserved with a fantastic center palate of fruit and firm tannins. Closed and hiding behind the structure and depth. Needs time to open still but already a joy to taste (drink!).

The 2005 Château Latour is about as classic Latour as it gets and has the vintages (and Chateau’s) dense, powerful, massively concentrated style. Darker currants, scorched earth, leather, bloody meats, and green tobacco all define this incredible Pauillac and it’s full-bodied, has a massive mid-palate, both ample tannins and acidity, and a great finish. Based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, it clearly offers pleasure today but I’d nevertheless give bottles another 4-6 years if possible. It’s will probably see it’s 100th birthday in fine form. It’s unquestionably in the same league as the 1982, 1990, and 2009.

Dark ruby black in color. Brilliant, intense aromas of mineral, blackberry and currant, with hints of Indian spices and cigar box, lead to a full-bodied palate, with ultrafine tannins and a beautiful balance of blackberry, raspberry and mineral. There's subtlety, yet also great depth. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is a Latour with fabulous tone and vigor. Best after 2018. – JS

Still very closed on the nose, this is a Latour which has all the building blocks coming into place but still has a very long future ahead. Classic Pauillac lead-pencil character with a plush, rich, intense palate of dark, concentrated fruit. Glossy and smooth on the palate, a real thoroughbred. It finishes with a long, lingering graphite freshness. Drinking beautifully but will age extremely well. Harvest took place between 26 September and 6 October.

Today owned by Artemis Domaines, back in 1855 Latour was in the hands of the de Beaumont family, descendants of the historic de Ségur family. It had also already become one of the first estates in Bordeaux to incorporate as a business, forming the Société Civile de Château Latour in 1842. It was undisputedly among the top wines of the region back then, and it continues to be now, proof of the magical combination and location, soils, investment and skill. This remains muscular, just starting to soften and open, slowing layers and waves of cocoa bean, blackberry, cassis, liquorice root, crayon, cigar box and truffle. 100% new oak for ageing.

Powerful, tannic, bold, firm and structured, this is perhaps the quintessential example of the fist inside the iron glove. This is incredibly powerful, focused and precise. It's also quite structured, dense and tannic. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2005+Latour+

The Château Latour 2005 has an outgoing and ebullient bouquet with blackberries, wild strawberry, minerals and wilted rose petals. It has great intensity and authority, a bouquet that is polished but not over-buffed. The palate is full-bodied with a silky smooth entry. The acidity is beautifully judged, layers of small red cherries, raspberry and cedar, with graphite revealed towards the long and persistent finish with startling architecture. Outstanding.

98+ 2005 was a very dry, warm and sunny vintage, causing vine stress in some areas of Bordeaux. Harvested from September 26 to October 6, the tannin/IPT levels were very high this year. The 2005 Latour is blended of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is the biggest surprise of this tasting—until now, the wine was relatively closed and broody, but today the wine is just starting to reveal its personality—and what a stunner! Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with provocative floral scents of roses and violets over a core of fresh blackcurrants, chocolate-covered cherries and black raspberries with hints of fertile loam, unsmoked cigars and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and packed with muscular fruit, it has an epically long, savory finish sparked by floral notes. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2005 Latour has an absolutely stunning bouquet that rivets you to the spot, with brilliant delineation and concentration and layers of black fruit, tar, graphite and light floral scents. Quintessential Latour firing on all cylinders. The palate is classic in style with a grainy texture, showstopping salinity and immense tension. You can almost picture the Gironde Estuary in your mind as you taste this. This is more backward than its peers, including the other First Growths, which I would expect. Nevertheless, it is a multifaceted, long-term Latour for those with patience. Tasted at the château. -- Neal Martin

87% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Merlot 1% Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Inky red/purple that doesn't fade. Cool minty dark chocolate on the nose with big dark plum and black cherry notes. Rich and full big tannic structure that is well integrated. A smoky long fruit finish this is a complex and beautiful wine. Fairly open for such a young wine. Tannins are nice and soft.