1 impériale per lot
Details
Château Latour--Vintage 1996
Pauillac, 1er cru classé. Château-bottled
Vintage Report: The 1996 vintage in Bordeaux began with a mild, very dry winter, depleting the water table and leading to a late budbreak. Fortunately, the vines caught up and flowering occurred at the normal time. Conditions during the growing season were frankly up and down, with periods of cool and rain interspersed with heat and sun. September finally saw cool but very sunny weather, allowing the fruit to ripen well yet retain firm tannins and crisp acidity, and the harvest began on the 23rd of September and continued throught the 8th of October. The wines of 1996 are marked by an impeccable balance: they show a lush, ripe, forward fruit character, yet still retain plenty of structure, with a lively acidity and firm tannins that should allow them to age for decades to come.
"A spectacular Latour, the 1996 may be the modern day clone of the 1966, only riper. An opaque purple color is followed by phenomenally sweet, pure aromas of cassis infused with subtle minerals. This massive offering possesses unreal levels of extract, full body, intensely ripe, but abundant tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. Classic and dense, it displays the potential for 50-75 years of longevity." 99 points, Robert Parker, June 2000
"Fairly deep, intense; high-toned, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon aroma, crisp, developed well in the glass; full-flavoured, attractive, on the lean side, very tannic, crisp acidity. A long-haul wine." Michael Broadbent M. W., June 2007
"The 1996 Latour recently showed a forward, youthful fruit character of currants touched with mint on the nose with a subtle suggestion of cinnamon and spices. On the palate the wine was youthful and tannic, with lots of grip, nice density and very good length. Delicious." Charles Curtis M. W., August 2010
1 impériale per lot
Pauillac, 1er cru classé. Château-bottled
Vintage Report: The 1996 vintage in Bordeaux began with a mild, very dry winter, depleting the water table and leading to a late budbreak. Fortunately, the vines caught up and flowering occurred at the normal time. Conditions during the growing season were frankly up and down, with periods of cool and rain interspersed with heat and sun. September finally saw cool but very sunny weather, allowing the fruit to ripen well yet retain firm tannins and crisp acidity, and the harvest began on the 23rd of September and continued throught the 8th of October. The wines of 1996 are marked by an impeccable balance: they show a lush, ripe, forward fruit character, yet still retain plenty of structure, with a lively acidity and firm tannins that should allow them to age for decades to come.
"A spectacular Latour, the 1996 may be the modern day clone of the 1966, only riper. An opaque purple color is followed by phenomenally sweet, pure aromas of cassis infused with subtle minerals. This massive offering possesses unreal levels of extract, full body, intensely ripe, but abundant tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. Classic and dense, it displays the potential for 50-75 years of longevity." 99 points, Robert Parker, June 2000
"Fairly deep, intense; high-toned, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon aroma, crisp, developed well in the glass; full-flavoured, attractive, on the lean side, very tannic, crisp acidity. A long-haul wine." Michael Broadbent M. W., June 2007
"The 1996 Latour recently showed a forward, youthful fruit character of currants touched with mint on the nose with a subtle suggestion of cinnamon and spices. On the palate the wine was youthful and tannic, with lots of grip, nice density and very good length. Delicious." Charles Curtis M. W., August 2010
1 impériale per lot
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