12 bottles per lot
Details
Château Latour--Vintage 1996
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
A mild, wet winter resulted in a fairly early budbreak at Latour, on 23 March for the Merlot and 2 April for the Cabernet Sauvignon. After three weeks of cool weather in early May, a warm period from the 23rd caused an 'explosion' in growth. Flowering began on 29 May. Some flowers abortion was noted in the older Merlot vines in the Enclos. June and July were hot and humid. Thunderstorms continued in August, but Latour was spared, receiving only 67mm of rain. There was a period of fine weather in late August with three hot, dry weeks, easterly winds had a concentrating effect on the grapes, and cool nights enable gradual ripening in typical ocean climate conditions. The harvest were slightly disrupted by several storms and took place from 17 September to 2 October. The grapes were perfect, very ripe and perfectly balanced, comparable to 1990.
Tasting note:
predictably stern and tannic in its youth. Very good notes at various tastings either side of 2000. then * add: Two recent notes: appearance very similar to Lafite; high-toned, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon aroma, crisp, high-toned, developed well in the glass; full-flavoured, attractive, on the lean side, very tannic and noticeable acidity. A long-hall wine. Last tasted Oct 2005 (****) 2016 - 2030. MB
12 bottles per lot
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
A mild, wet winter resulted in a fairly early budbreak at Latour, on 23 March for the Merlot and 2 April for the Cabernet Sauvignon. After three weeks of cool weather in early May, a warm period from the 23rd caused an 'explosion' in growth. Flowering began on 29 May. Some flowers abortion was noted in the older Merlot vines in the Enclos. June and July were hot and humid. Thunderstorms continued in August, but Latour was spared, receiving only 67mm of rain. There was a period of fine weather in late August with three hot, dry weeks, easterly winds had a concentrating effect on the grapes, and cool nights enable gradual ripening in typical ocean climate conditions. The harvest were slightly disrupted by several storms and took place from 17 September to 2 October. The grapes were perfect, very ripe and perfectly balanced, comparable to 1990.
Tasting note:
predictably stern and tannic in its youth. Very good notes at various tastings either side of 2000. then * add: Two recent notes: appearance very similar to Lafite; high-toned, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon aroma, crisp, high-toned, developed well in the glass; full-flavoured, attractive, on the lean side, very tannic and noticeable acidity. A long-hall wine. Last tasted Oct 2005 (****) 2016 - 2030. MB
12 bottles per lot