2010 Latour, Pauillac (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1067057 100 points James Suckling

The aromas of flowers such as roses, violets and lilacs jump from the glass then turn to dark berries such as blueberries and blackberries. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and dense and intense with a chocolate, berry and currant character. This is juicy and rich with wood still showing a bit, but it's all coming together wonderfully. Muscular yet toned. Another perfect wine like the 2010. Try in 2022. (2/ 2013)

98-100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

It’s too early to know for sure, but the 2010 Latour appears to be a huge and massive Pauillac fruit bomb from this property. With 14.4% natural alcohol, this blend of 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and .5% Cabernet Franc, director Frederic Engerer told me it is unlike any other wine made at this estate. Possessing abundant amounts of everything, it even eclipses the 2009 in terms of power with a lower pH and higher total acidity. Representing only 36% of the production (making it even more difficult to find than usual, as this is the smallest of the Medoc first growths), it possesses an opaque black/purple color along with an extraordinary perfume of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and cassis liqueurs and hints of white chocolate as well as earth intermixed with vague charcoal and truffle-like components. With unreal concentration, full-bodied power, and a precision, freshness and refined level of tannins that are something to behold, this remarkable offering is one of my personal favorites of the vintage. It will undoubtedly shut down after bottling and enjoy 50-60 years of longevity. (5/ 2011)

96-99 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

(blend of 90.5% cabernet sauvignon, 8.5% merlot, and 0.5% each cabernet franc and petit verdot; 83 IPT; 36% selection for the grand vin Deep, opaque, glass-staining ruby-purple. Intensely pure, classic Bordeaux cabernet sauvignon aromas of fresh blackcurrant, minerals, cedar and truffle, with sweeter blueberry and intense floral notes emerging with air. The palate offers great depth of flavor, but the wine is currently hard as nails and lacking in generosity. Still, there's great depth of pristine dark fruit lurking beneath the heavy cloak of smooth, high-quality tannins. Amazingly balanced and extremely long, but this Latour will need a good two decades to approach optimal maturity, and may be better suited for your grandchildren. A winemaking tour de force, this may very well be the wine of the vintage. (6/ 2011)

97-99 points Wine Enthusiast

This has great beauty, with delicious fruits at the beginning. The structure comes from behind, with such sweet fruit tannins, then chocolate, an edge of wood and finally acidity reigns supreme. (6/ 2011)

99 points Wine Spectator

*Collectibles* Unbelievably pure, with distilled cassis and plum fruit that cuts a very precise path, while embers of anise, violet and black cherry confiture form a gorgeous backdrop. A bedrock of graphite structure should help this outlive other 2010s. Powerful, sleek and incredibly long. Not perfect, but very close. Best from 2020 through 2050 (1/ 2013)

K&L Notes

90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Petit Verdot.