Les Forts de Chateau Latour 2005

Lobenberg: Sehr dunkles Rubinrot mit Schwarz. Les Forts de Chateau Latour ist im eigentlichen Sinne kein Zweitwein, sondern wird nur von Rebbergen gewonnen, die separat für diesen Wein reserviert sind. Also im Grunde ein eigenständiges Cru. Aus dem Glas springt recht druckvoll eine Mischung aus schwarzer und roter Frucht mit feiner Süße. Schon in der Nase sehr voluminös, aber sehr fein dabei. Im Mund ungeheure Intensität an Frucht. Leichtes Holz und superlanger schöner Abgang. Große Harmonie ausstrahlend. Vielleicht etwas kalifornisch, aber sehr schön, sehr schmackhaft, sehr balanciert. Eine Harmonie wie es sie hier so für mich noch nicht gab. Toller Wein. 94-95+/100 -- WS: The second wine of Latour is always more open than the [i]grand vin[n], and this one is no different. Gorgeous aromas of currants, berries, licorice and minerals follow through to a full-bodied palate with velvety tannins and a long finish. Fantastic. Best ever. Hard to believe. 95-100/100 -- RP: The second wine, the 2005 Les Forts de Latour, represents 45% of the production. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, it appears to be the finest Forts de Latour since the 1982 (which I had the good fortune of drinking out of an Imperiale and Jeroboam at Restaurant Daniel on the occasion of Daniel Boulud's receipt of France's Legion of Honor on March 12th). The 2005 Les Forts de Latour reveals a striking minerality in addition to gorgeous notes of creme de cassis, forest floor, plum, minerals, and subtle oak. This full-bodied, superbly concentrated, fresh wine should evolve gracefully for two decades. 92-94

-- Suckling: Very classy with plenty of raspberry, currant, and licorice character. This is dense and compacted on the palate. Leave it for at least two or three years from now. 94/100

-- Parker: The 2005 Les Forts de Latour is another beautiful wine from this estate. Medium to full-bodied, with a dense ruby/purple color, loads of blackcurrant fruit, earth, and spice, the wine is extremely pure, broad, savory, and quite expensive. This is a fabulous second wine, but in essence, this is really of classified growth quality. Drink it over the next 20+ years. 93/100

-- Winespectator: Shows blackberry, coffee, cedar, and raisin on the nose, turning to licorice and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with refined, silky tannins and a long finish. Balanced and juicy. Builds on the palate, with currant, licorice and mineral character, followed by a powerful finish. An amazing second wine. 94/100

-- Galloni: Open-knit yet deep and powerful, the 2005 Les Forts de Latour is striking today. The pedigree of the vintage comes through in spades. Expressive, perfumed aromatics meld into a core of supple, open-knit fruit in a mid-weight, impeccably balanced Forts de Latour. Hints of red fruit, iron, smoke and tobacco add lovely shades of nuance. Latour's President Frédéric Engerer adds that that 2005 was the easiest and most balanced growing season (including 2009 and 2010) he has seen because his team had the total flexibility of choosing when to harvest. 94/100