2017 Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux

With a floral curl on the first nose, this is an attractive and sappy Forts de Latour with a fine, elegant, almost chalky aspect to the tannins. Thoroughly charming raspberry and blackberry fruit, fresh earth, cocoa powder and slate, with a mouthwatering finish. There is an elegant feel to this, more evolved than in bigger vintages at the six-year stage, although still with clear architecture to the tannins. As you sit with it, you start to realise how carefully it is gripping through the palate and how fine a wine it is. As with many in Pauillac, Latour found the September rains of 2017 challenging, and two of the plots normally used for the main estate wine are in Forts this year.

Drink 2023 - 2038

Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com (February 2023)