From own cellar - purchased at auction. The bottle is a throwback to another era. Bottles looked different. The bottle collar was made of tin. The extra-long cork was in extraordinary shape with top fifth not wet. How many regions give you a reasonable shot at opening a 50-year old wine that is still alive? Here comes mature Bordeaux! Very musty nose upon opening that blows off. Pours a dark ruby with moderate bricking. Nose remains earthy with tobbaco and very fresh, light menthol. The palate unfolds with very fresh and matte red fruits. The package is very consistent through the finish. Great poise and intensity. It is very youthful and I can trust accounts that put it on a par with the Grand Vin that year.
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In the illustrious circles of upper gentile society, where refinement is not just a choice but a way of life, certain wines transcend the boundaries of taste, becoming iconic symbols of opulence and sophistication.
The 1970 Les Forts de Latour is one such masterpiece that beckons the discerning palate into a world of elegance and nostalgia. For someone like me—a hopeless romantic, a show-off, an ex-rock musician, and a lover of the finer things in life—this vintage is a symphony of senses, a journey into the past through the elixir of time.
As I uncorked this venerable bottle, the air was immediately infused with the rich aroma of history. The deep, garnet hues of the wine hinted at the decades it had spent maturing, locked away in the cellars of Château Latour. Pouring it into the glass, the wine unveiled itself slowly, like a cherished memory surfacing from the depths of time.
Remember, Apollo 13 was coming back to earth....and this is what happened to me spiritually.
The first encounter with the 1970 Les Forts de Latour was nothing short of a revelation. The bouquet was an intricate dance of fragrances, a harmonious blend of blackberries, cedar, and subtle hints of truffle. Each inhalation transported me to a bygone era, where life moved at a slower pace, and every moment was savored like a fine work of art.
Sipping this nectar of the gods, I couldn't help but revel in the exquisite taste that unfolded on my palate. Berries of lusciousness. The wine possessed a rare balance, a delicate interplay of fruit, tannins, and acidity. Blackcurrants and plums embraced my taste buds, while the velvety texture caressed my senses, leaving behind a lingering finish that resonated like a well-composed symphony.
The Les Forts de Latour, born of the renowned terroir of Pauillac, spoke eloquently of its origins. The gravelly soils of the estate imparted a distinct minerality to the wine, a testament to the vineyard's contribution to the timeless art of winemaking. As a lover of the finer things in life, I reveled in the realization that every sip was not merely an act of consumption but a communion with the earth, a connection to the very essence of the vineyard.
In the world of upper gentile society, where appearances matter, the 1970 Les Forts de Latour is a showstopper. Its provenance alone is enough to command respect, but it is the wine's intrinsic qualities that truly make it shine. Pouring it into crystal-clear stemware, I couldn't help but appreciate the way it caught the light, casting a mesmerizing glow that spoke of centuries of tradition and craftsmanship.
As a former rock musician, I've always been drawn to the theatrical, the dramatic, and the evocative. The Les Forts de Latour, with its rich, complex profile, played out on my palate like a musical composition, each note hitting the right chord. It was a performance that unfolded in layers, revealing new dimensions with every sip. The wine's evolution in the glass mirrored the crescendo of a well-executed guitar solo, leaving me in awe of the craftsmanship that went into its creation.
Nostalgia, a sentiment that often accompanies the appreciation of fine wines, took me on a journey back to the 1970s—a time when the world was in the throes of cultural revolution, and I, a young musician, was navigating the tumultuous seas of fame and artistic expression. The Les Forts de Latour became a time machine, whisking me away to the smoky halls where my guitar riffs echoed, and the spirit of rebellion fueled our creative endeavors.
Yet, beyond the notes of nostalgia, there was a romantic undertone to the Les Forts de Latour, a whisper of passion that lingered on the palate. It was as if the wine held within its depths the echoes of countless shared moments, intimate conversations, and stolen glances exchanged in the moonlit corners of glamorous soirées. The soft tannins and the wine's ethereal finish spoke of love affairs that had weathered the storms of time, leaving only the sweet residue of enduring romance.
As the evening progressed and the bottle neared its end, I couldn't help but reflect on the ephemeral nature of life and the timeless allure of wines like the 1970 Les Forts de Latour. In a world that often moves too fast, this vintage was a reminder to pause, to savor the beauty that lies in the intersection of past and present, and to appreciate the craftsmanship that transforms grapes into liquid poetry.
In conclusion, this is a damn good wine, but drink now my lovelies.
NOTE TO SELF: SHOULD OF DECANTED LONGER. 1.4 HOURS NEXT TIME
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Deep garnet, with browning edges, and somewhat murky, possibly from super fine sediments. Dried floral potpourri nose, with dried grass, and dried, nearly candied blackberry, as well as lichens, fungals, and forest floor. Structurally resolved completelg, but the acids still lively, whilst with still some weight, with prunes, dried cranberry and red cherry, some brine, seaweed, leaf compost, and a slight smoky feel. Quite lengthy still, and having a rather refined feel though it seems starting to lose in the realm of complexity. Old, but still lovely
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Bottom of neck fill; perfect cork Served without decanting Musty basement on the cork Wine is still dark with no appreciable bricking Lovely scorched earth nose that gives way to barnyard and leather Drinking superbly right now. Still has some tannin. Raspberry and black cherry with tobacco and leather. Has an elegant mouthfeel. Initially ended a bit abruptly and fruit was a bit hidden behind the tannin, but after 15 minutes the tasting experience blossomed with fruit coming forward and the tannin far in the background. There is a lovely, complex and long finish
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1970 Themed Bordeaux Dinner: Base neck fill. This pours medium ruby with very light bricking. Impressive color for the age, definitely a great bottle. The nose is absolutely stunning showing sweet cedar, exotic spices, animal fur, plum, dark cherry, cinnamon, and violets. The palate is liquid silk showing lovely cherry and plum with sweet cedar and violets harmoniously closing things out. The tannin is medium minus with fine grained texture and medium acid. The finish is very long and complex displaying the lovely seamless fruit and spice profile of this wine. All in all a wonderful surprise, way ahead of my expectations and easily the best second wine experience I've ever had. Really impressive how close in profile and quality this is to the first wine in this vintage. What's fascinating here is the bottles visually looked very similar, same importer tag, same bottle condition and fill level. However they came from different sources, one a private cellar purchased on release. The other from auction. Just a wonderful wine. I didn't catch the price, but I'm sure a relative bargain given the quality of whats in the bottle.
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Very earthy, dank, musty nose of leather, tree bark, maple syrup, forest floor, black truffle, pencil lead, and lavender, a palate nearly devoid of fruit with hints of early picked blackberry and black currant and additional flavors of dark chocolate, walnut, cedar, and black olive, very soft, round tannins, medium-long finish.
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After initial opening, a lot of funk that evaporated after 30 mins and opened up to some fruity/earthy notes which gave me hope albeit after letting it air for 60mins I poured myself a glass and it was very muted on the palate and rather flat. It was drinkable (esp for a 51 year old wine!) but other than that wasn’t too memorable. Bottle variation is likely to blame! This particular bottle was likely over the hill a while ago so drink up if you have any of these left!
Purchased on WineBid so its really a hit or miss with vintage wines sold there as so many factors play into a wines longevity over 50+ years!
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Pitted against the 1970 Grand Vin in a fascinating double blind. This nose started off a little quieter than the other glass and had a softer and lighter character. Less rusticity and sauvage and more sweet red berry. Ruby red cherry and a nearly Burgundian elegance. This is growing and expanding in the glass whereas the Latour is backing off of its initial high point. Minty detail.Palate is elegant and refined but with a wallop of red fruit power. A terrific bottle that I incorrectly called the Grand Vin.
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We drank on my wife’s 50th birthday. Enjoyable wine. Opened about 1.5 hours before drinking. Rose and earthy on the nose. Still had some fruit and hints of soil. Paired excellently with dark chocolate with camel. Carmel popped. Such fun. Six of us so small glass each
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COVID Cyber Tasting: Bottle breathe for 2 hours and decanted for 30 min before serving. Another amazing Les Forts 70s that offered cedar, violet, and ripe fruit, and the palate is fully integrated and fruit. Full body and condensed yet balanced. Medium finishing. The wine kept developing in the next hour until we finished up. Wonderful 50-year old wine
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Base neck and in magnum format. Wine took 1.5-2 hrs to open up. Earth and leather. Color still dark. Showing some strength despite 50 yrs old. In large format, likely another 3-5 yrs.
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dark red with brick rim - mature Pauillac cassis nose with undertones of graphite, cedar, and oak - beautiful mature fruit in the mouth, full body and resolved tannins, well balanced acidity - medium length 15-20 second finish -a beautiful example of a fully mature and well structured Pauillac that is extremely enjoyable now, but can easily last for another 3-5 years - characteristic of the 70 vintage, the abundant ripe cabernet fruit has not only survived 50 years, it has evolved into an elegant and complex claret that still retains the power of a Latour, even as a second bottling - very glad I kept it this long - more glad I have another 2 bottles!
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Had from a family friend's cellar. First time drinking something this old so not sure what to expect. This had been stored for at least 40 years in a hand-built cellar/cave. Label was still in good shape, cork came out relatively clean. Bottle threw a ton of sediment. Drank over about an hour at lunch- what a treat! A bit caramel/brown color, little left on the finish, nice nose.
In magnum format and the level at base neck. Wine took 2-3 hrs to open up. Mint, tobacco and a light berry taste. Length a little short. Nose a bit restrained, but the taste is better than the nose. Some tennin left.
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Moist cork in good condition but I still broke it during removal. Surprisingly dark/rich color for its age, with just a faint hint of browning at the edge—wonderful nose was promising but the palate fell a bit short. After about 30min in the glass the wine became more coherent and integrated with some nice fruit still remaining. Good but nothing spectacular. Well-stored bottles will probably remain at this stage for a few more years but I'd drink them up soon.
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Annual holiday dinner with DC winos: fabulous wines kick off 2016! (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): This was gorgeous. The second wine of Chateau Latour overshadowed the Haut Brion of the same vintage in some sense, although the Haut Brion had a longer finish. What all of us liked so much about this wine was its freshness, precision, balance and full body. It had some cassis still, with telltale cigar box notes. The only limit was a somewhat short finish, but as one taster remarked, it did not taste like a 45 year old wine. Perhaps the most surprising wine of the evening - and a testament to the great chateau that is Latour. Thanks to Ken Barr for bringing it over!
This bottle was in very good nick. It was fresh and meaty with some lead pencil action. It was quite savoury in the mouth, finishing with plenty of tannin.
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From magnum. Unfortunately this wine got lost amongst the other wines of the evening, but on a 'normal' night this would have been well received. Moderate intensity but had dry earth, red dark fruit, and light spice which would have it pair well with a variety of foods. Positively influenced by the magnum format.
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There was a foul mouldy smell that marred the wine - not cork though. Behind this smell I could sense the wine was a seamless, harmonious and substantial mature Bordeaux... Pity!
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Generally similar to the previous bottle, but overall cleaner and fresher, with an interesting dark fruit and tobacco profile. Going a bit flat so I would not hold much longer, but quite pleasurable now. Neck fill.
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Surprisingly youthful color, light black cherry with ruby-garnet glints. Persistent and slightly uninviting barnyard funky nose. More pleasant on the palate, still on the tertiary side, building to considerable sweet primary fruit emerging through the shortish finish, along with a bit of firm tannin, heat, and juicy acidity. Overall just an okay showing. Neck fill, decent looking bottle.
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Drank two bottles at our latest "wine/food party"; 22 attended. Opened two bottles of this. One cork good, one bad. Wine good in both bottles and decanted 3.5 hours prior to drinking. Just the perfect essence of old claret: wonderful nose, elegant fruit, tannins resolved. Perhaps the star of the evening with 89 Mouton.
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Opened around 5PM and double decanted for a prime rib roast at a friend's house, served around 7PM. A strong minty note (also found in the 1970 Latour grand vin) that some might confuse for TCA, this is still going strong. I can't imagine too many second wines being drinkable at age 42, but this is good shit. 2 btls remain, and I look forward to drinking them over the next 2-5 years.
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Wonderful mature wine with no sign of fatigue. I've had this wine quite a few times, has always been excellent, some bottles better than others though. This one was really good with bitter cedary flavours, bitter chocolate and ripe plummy fruit. Silky textured and flavorful. A wonderful mature Bordeaux.
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This was even better than when previously tasted a year ago. Lovely aged Pauillac nose with graphite, cedar, ink and cassis with tertiary aromas of damp forrest floor. Medium-bodied, with mellowed tannins, perfectly preserved fruit, balancing acidity and a medium-long aftertaste. Extremely elegant and enjoyable, though fully mature, will continue to drink nicely for several years. A wine that gives the perfect answer to the question "why should we age top Bordeaux". Having enjoyed this alongside several aged wines from various regions, we had a clear picture on which wines have the highest aging potential. You bet! Bordeaux, Bordeaux, Bordeaux!!!
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A perfectly mature wine with fantastic balance in palate betwenn still lively acidity, medium resolved and fine grained tannins against medium body and alcohol. Silky with red fruit, strawberry jam, tobacco and cedar. Lovely and medium+ finish.
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Classic mature Pauillac at its maturity plateau - no sign of decline. Cedar, dark fruit and some floral lift. Rounded smooth palate of medium to high concentration and medium finish. Tasted along many other wines it somehow got overlooked but had it been alone to accompany an evening under candlelight it would have been memorable.
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The nose showed subtle cherry and strawberry nuances, mixed with dark earth and a little wet forest floor. Medium body and short finish. This was showing very well, especially for the oldest wine of the evening, even if it was a bit square and uncomplicated. 70% CS.
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cork was bad but the wine was not . decanted for three hours : Drak red but not muddy-- earthy minerals gives way to licorice and as another reviewer sid restrained red fruits, Smoke follows and lingers. Not as comeplex but each sip was something new. Very enjoyable
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Hard to believe this one's 40 years old. This is classical, left bank claret - savoury earth and tobacco framing gentle, restrained red fruited notes with touches of cedar and graphite emerging with more air. It's not about power or intensity, rather a wine that takes its time to slowly unravel flavours with a sense of elegance and restraint; beautiful stuff that's perfectly mature and resolved right now and wonderful to drink. Thanks Josh.
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Drank over dinner with friends alongside another 5 reds from the 1970 vintage. This wine was in perfect condition and still so...youthful! Amazing given the fact that it is a second label. Color not observed properly due to insufficient light. Great Pauillac nose with ink, graphite, cedar, olive and dried flowers. Very elegant indeed. Mid-bodied with firm tanins, bright fruit and high acidity. Medium finish. With a longer finish I would have called it a masterpiece. Really impressive anyway.
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We had this wine together with another 5 bottles from 1970. It was followed by Haut Brion. The bad thing with such tastings is that one puts his critical lenses on and part of the enjoyment of a perfectly good wine gets mitigated by comparison with other possibly better wines. Ok, Haut Brion was more substantial in comparison, but this was also a tremendous wine. Medium garnet not much browning, nose still fresh with pauillac aromas of graphite and a nice dried flower lift. Smooth and elegant mouth, had poise, structure very unlike the untamed beast that came before (Chateau Fortia tete de cru Chateauneuf). Wonderful mature wine, but still with lots of life in it, to drink on civilized occasions...
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Still wild and crazy after all these years. Great color. Decanted for about 2 hrs. Plummy and yummy. If you have it, drink it within the next few years, max.
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A great showing. Beautifully evolved, and while on the slope down, it still has some time left. Structure and plummy fruit, with minerality and some earthy character, this stood up very well next to the 70 Latour, though not as deep or complex.
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Dark purple. A lot of cassis and liquorice in the bouquet as well as beautiful oak. In the taste there is a lot of cassis, iron, good oak and bitterness. Powerful wine with a long aftertaste. Very pleasurable now and also a good future ahead.
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12/27/2023 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 88 Points
Nice nose. Limited fruit left. Not the best bottle.
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12/17/2023 - palfr2 wrote:
From own cellar - purchased at auction. The bottle is a throwback to another era. Bottles looked different. The bottle collar was made of tin. The extra-long cork was in extraordinary shape with top fifth not wet. How many regions give you a reasonable shot at opening a 50-year old wine that is still alive? Here comes mature Bordeaux! Very musty nose upon opening that blows off. Pours a dark ruby with moderate bricking. Nose remains earthy with tobbaco and very fresh, light menthol. The palate unfolds with very fresh and matte red fruits. The package is very consistent through the finish. Great poise and intensity. It is very youthful and I can trust accounts that put it on a par with the Grand Vin that year.
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11/12/2023 - BellevuePhil Likes this wine: 92 Points
In the illustrious circles of upper gentile society, where refinement is not just a choice but a way of life, certain wines transcend the boundaries of taste, becoming iconic symbols of opulence and sophistication.
The 1970 Les Forts de Latour is one such masterpiece that beckons the discerning palate into a world of elegance and nostalgia. For someone like me—a hopeless romantic, a show-off, an ex-rock musician, and a lover of the finer things in life—this vintage is a symphony of senses, a journey into the past through the elixir of time.
As I uncorked this venerable bottle, the air was immediately infused with the rich aroma of history. The deep, garnet hues of the wine hinted at the decades it had spent maturing, locked away in the cellars of Château Latour. Pouring it into the glass, the wine unveiled itself slowly, like a cherished memory surfacing from the depths of time.
Remember, Apollo 13 was coming back to earth....and this is what happened to me spiritually.
The first encounter with the 1970 Les Forts de Latour was nothing short of a revelation. The bouquet was an intricate dance of fragrances, a harmonious blend of blackberries, cedar, and subtle hints of truffle. Each inhalation transported me to a bygone era, where life moved at a slower pace, and every moment was savored like a fine work of art.
Sipping this nectar of the gods, I couldn't help but revel in the exquisite taste that unfolded on my palate. Berries of lusciousness. The wine possessed a rare balance, a delicate interplay of fruit, tannins, and acidity. Blackcurrants and plums embraced my taste buds, while the velvety texture caressed my senses, leaving behind a lingering finish that resonated like a well-composed symphony.
The Les Forts de Latour, born of the renowned terroir of Pauillac, spoke eloquently of its origins. The gravelly soils of the estate imparted a distinct minerality to the wine, a testament to the vineyard's contribution to the timeless art of winemaking. As a lover of the finer things in life, I reveled in the realization that every sip was not merely an act of consumption but a communion with the earth, a connection to the very essence of the vineyard.
In the world of upper gentile society, where appearances matter, the 1970 Les Forts de Latour is a showstopper. Its provenance alone is enough to command respect, but it is the wine's intrinsic qualities that truly make it shine. Pouring it into crystal-clear stemware, I couldn't help but appreciate the way it caught the light, casting a mesmerizing glow that spoke of centuries of tradition and craftsmanship.
As a former rock musician, I've always been drawn to the theatrical, the dramatic, and the evocative. The Les Forts de Latour, with its rich, complex profile, played out on my palate like a musical composition, each note hitting the right chord. It was a performance that unfolded in layers, revealing new dimensions with every sip. The wine's evolution in the glass mirrored the crescendo of a well-executed guitar solo, leaving me in awe of the craftsmanship that went into its creation.
Nostalgia, a sentiment that often accompanies the appreciation of fine wines, took me on a journey back to the 1970s—a time when the world was in the throes of cultural revolution, and I, a young musician, was navigating the tumultuous seas of fame and artistic expression. The Les Forts de Latour became a time machine, whisking me away to the smoky halls where my guitar riffs echoed, and the spirit of rebellion fueled our creative endeavors.
Yet, beyond the notes of nostalgia, there was a romantic undertone to the Les Forts de Latour, a whisper of passion that lingered on the palate. It was as if the wine held within its depths the echoes of countless shared moments, intimate conversations, and stolen glances exchanged in the moonlit corners of glamorous soirées. The soft tannins and the wine's ethereal finish spoke of love affairs that had weathered the storms of time, leaving only the sweet residue of enduring romance.
As the evening progressed and the bottle neared its end, I couldn't help but reflect on the ephemeral nature of life and the timeless allure of wines like the 1970 Les Forts de Latour. In a world that often moves too fast, this vintage was a reminder to pause, to savor the beauty that lies in the intersection of past and present, and to appreciate the craftsmanship that transforms grapes into liquid poetry.
In conclusion, this is a damn good wine, but drink now my lovelies.
NOTE TO SELF: SHOULD OF DECANTED LONGER. 1.4 HOURS NEXT TIME
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8/29/2023 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet, with browning edges, and somewhat murky, possibly from super fine sediments. Dried floral potpourri nose, with dried grass, and dried, nearly candied blackberry, as well as lichens, fungals, and forest floor. Structurally resolved completelg, but the acids still lively, whilst with still some weight, with prunes, dried cranberry and red cherry, some brine, seaweed, leaf compost, and a slight smoky feel. Quite lengthy still, and having a rather refined feel though it seems starting to lose in the realm of complexity. Old, but still lovely
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2/15/2023 - Ruby99 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bottom of neck fill; perfect cork
Served without decanting
Musty basement on the cork
Wine is still dark with no appreciable bricking
Lovely scorched earth nose that gives way to barnyard and leather Drinking superbly right now. Still has some tannin. Raspberry and black cherry with tobacco and leather. Has an elegant mouthfeel. Initially ended a bit abruptly and fruit was a bit hidden behind the tannin, but after 15 minutes the tasting experience blossomed with fruit coming forward and the tannin far in the background. There is a lovely, complex and long finish
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2/12/2023 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: flawed
Sampled from magnum at a walk-around wine and food party, this was (sadly) corked.
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1/21/2023 - Wine Canuck wrote: 95 Points
1970 Themed Bordeaux Dinner: Base neck fill. This pours medium ruby with very light bricking. Impressive color for the age, definitely a great bottle. The nose is absolutely stunning showing sweet cedar, exotic spices, animal fur, plum, dark cherry, cinnamon, and violets. The palate is liquid silk showing lovely cherry and plum with sweet cedar and violets harmoniously closing things out. The tannin is medium minus with fine grained texture and medium acid. The finish is very long and complex displaying the lovely seamless fruit and spice profile of this wine. All in all a wonderful surprise, way ahead of my expectations and easily the best second wine experience I've ever had. Really impressive how close in profile and quality this is to the first wine in this vintage. What's fascinating here is the bottles visually looked very similar, same importer tag, same bottle condition and fill level. However they came from different sources, one a private cellar purchased on release. The other from auction. Just a wonderful wine. I didn't catch the price, but I'm sure a relative bargain given the quality of whats in the bottle.
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12/20/2022 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good balance and freshness, if more limited on depth. Quite nice.
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9/18/2021 - heyjon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very earthy, dank, musty nose of leather, tree bark, maple syrup, forest floor, black truffle, pencil lead, and lavender, a palate nearly devoid of fruit with hints of early picked blackberry and black currant and additional flavors of dark chocolate, walnut, cedar, and black olive, very soft, round tannins, medium-long finish.
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5/23/2021 - vinomim91 wrote: 85 Points
Didn’t show up as well as previous notes here.
After initial opening, a lot of funk that evaporated after 30 mins and opened up to some fruity/earthy notes which gave me hope albeit after letting it air for 60mins I poured myself a glass and it was very muted on the palate and rather flat. It was drinkable (esp for a 51 year old wine!) but other than that wasn’t too memorable. Bottle variation is likely to blame! This particular bottle was likely over the hill a while ago so drink up if you have any of these left!
Purchased on WineBid so its really a hit or miss with vintage wines sold there as so many factors play into a wines longevity over 50+ years!
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1/27/2021 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 94 Points
Pitted against the 1970 Grand Vin in a fascinating double blind. This nose started off a little quieter than the other glass and had a softer and lighter character. Less rusticity and sauvage and more sweet red berry. Ruby red cherry and a nearly Burgundian elegance. This is growing and expanding in the glass whereas the Latour is backing off of its initial high point. Minty detail.Palate is elegant and refined but with a wallop of red fruit power. A terrific bottle that I incorrectly called the Grand Vin.
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12/23/2020 - Mricks70 Likes this wine: 93 Points
We drank on my wife’s 50th birthday. Enjoyable wine. Opened about 1.5 hours before drinking. Rose and earthy on the nose. Still had some fruit and hints of soil. Paired excellently with dark chocolate with camel. Carmel popped. Such fun. Six of us so small glass each
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12/4/2020 - schan109 Likes this wine: 95 Points
COVID Cyber Tasting: Bottle breathe for 2 hours and decanted for 30 min before serving. Another amazing Les Forts 70s that offered cedar, violet, and ripe fruit, and the palate is fully integrated and fruit. Full body and condensed yet balanced. Medium finishing. The wine kept developing in the next hour until we finished up. Wonderful 50-year old wine
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6/6/2020 - d'Auvenay Likes this wine: 91 Points
Base neck and in magnum format. Wine took 1.5-2 hrs to open up. Earth and leather. Color still dark. Showing some strength despite 50 yrs old. In large format, likely another 3-5 yrs.
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4/28/2020 - Verb Likes this wine: 94 Points
dark red with brick rim - mature Pauillac cassis nose with undertones of graphite, cedar, and oak - beautiful mature fruit in the mouth, full body and resolved tannins, well balanced acidity - medium length 15-20 second finish -a beautiful example of a fully mature and well structured Pauillac that is extremely enjoyable now, but can easily last for another 3-5 years - characteristic of the 70 vintage, the abundant ripe cabernet fruit has not only survived 50 years, it has evolved into an elegant and complex claret that still retains the power of a Latour, even as a second bottling - very glad I kept it this long - more glad I have another 2 bottles!
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9/15/2017 - sean7711 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had from a family friend's cellar. First time drinking something this old so not sure what to expect. This had been stored for at least 40 years in a hand-built cellar/cave. Label was still in good shape, cork came out relatively clean. Bottle threw a ton of sediment. Drank over about an hour at lunch- what a treat! A bit caramel/brown color, little left on the finish, nice nose.
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12/14/2016 - d'Auvenay Likes this wine: 90 Points
In magnum format and the level at base neck. Wine took 2-3 hrs to open up. Mint, tobacco and a light berry taste. Length a little short. Nose a bit restrained, but the taste is better than the nose. Some tennin left.
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10/31/2016 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 94 Points
My last of many bottles.
Consistently excellent mature Bordeaux.
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6/20/2016 - bullmrkt wrote: 90 Points
Moist cork in good condition but I still broke it during removal. Surprisingly dark/rich color for its age, with just a faint hint of browning at the edge—wonderful nose was promising but the palate fell a bit short. After about 30min in the glass the wine became more coherent and integrated with some nice fruit still remaining. Good but nothing spectacular. Well-stored bottles will probably remain at this stage for a few more years but I'd drink them up soon.
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1/8/2016 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 93 Points
Annual holiday dinner with DC winos: fabulous wines kick off 2016! (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): This was gorgeous. The second wine of Chateau Latour overshadowed the Haut Brion of the same vintage in some sense, although the Haut Brion had a longer finish. What all of us liked so much about this wine was its freshness, precision, balance and full body. It had some cassis still, with telltale cigar box notes. The only limit was a somewhat short finish, but as one taster remarked, it did not taste like a 45 year old wine. Perhaps the most surprising wine of the evening - and a testament to the great chateau that is Latour. Thanks to Ken Barr for bringing it over!
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8/31/2015 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
This bottle was in very good nick. It was fresh and meaty with some lead pencil action. It was quite savoury in the mouth, finishing with plenty of tannin.
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1/18/2015 - t.c.green Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicate, took an hour to open up, still with wonderful fruit, some bacon on the mid palate and a lingering taste.
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11/11/2014 - tinybubbles wrote: 92 Points
From magnum. Unfortunately this wine got lost amongst the other wines of the evening, but on a 'normal' night this would have been well received. Moderate intensity but had dry earth, red dark fruit, and light spice which would have it pair well with a variety of foods. Positively influenced by the magnum format.
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11/8/2014 - t.c.green Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still holding up very well, nice soft fruit and lingering on the palate
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3/29/2014 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still going strong, nice healthy color, nose of mature claret, smooth on the palate and flavorful. Excellent bottle with high fill.
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6/14/2013 - Chuck Miller wrote: flawed
Oxidised, very high shoulder fill.
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12/14/2012 - ginfizz wrote: 85 Points
Mature, musty, cranberry tinged fruit with tea leaf finish. Drink up.
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10/21/2012 - Stefanos T. wrote: flawed
There was a foul mouldy smell that marred the wine - not cork though. Behind this smell I could sense the wine was a seamless, harmonious and substantial mature Bordeaux... Pity!
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7/3/2012 - petitblanc wrote: 91 Points
Generally similar to the previous bottle, but overall cleaner and fresher, with an interesting dark fruit and tobacco profile. Going a bit flat so I would not hold much longer, but quite pleasurable now. Neck fill.
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6/25/2012 - petitblanc wrote: 86 Points
Surprisingly youthful color, light black cherry with ruby-garnet glints. Persistent and slightly uninviting barnyard funky nose. More pleasant on the palate, still on the tertiary side, building to considerable sweet primary fruit emerging through the shortish finish, along with a bit of firm tannin, heat, and juicy acidity. Overall just an okay showing. Neck fill, decent looking bottle.
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6/10/2012 - jklaw7 wrote: 94 Points
Drank two bottles at our latest "wine/food party"; 22 attended. Opened two bottles of this. One cork good, one bad. Wine good in both bottles and decanted 3.5 hours prior to drinking. Just the perfect essence of old claret: wonderful nose, elegant fruit, tannins resolved. Perhaps the star of the evening with 89 Mouton.
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5/6/2012 - Chuck Miller wrote:
Opened around 5PM and double decanted for a prime rib roast at a friend's house, served around 7PM. A strong minty note (also found in the 1970 Latour grand vin) that some might confuse for TCA, this is still going strong. I can't imagine too many second wines being drinkable at age 42, but this is good shit. 2 btls remain, and I look forward to drinking them over the next 2-5 years.
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2/4/2012 - Stefanos T. wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful mature wine with no sign of fatigue. I've had this wine quite a few times, has always been excellent, some bottles better than others though. This one was really good with bitter cedary flavours, bitter chocolate and ripe plummy fruit. Silky textured and flavorful. A wonderful mature Bordeaux.
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12/23/2011 - Yiannis wrote: 94 Points
This was even better than when previously tasted a year ago. Lovely aged Pauillac nose with graphite, cedar, ink and cassis with tertiary aromas of damp forrest floor. Medium-bodied, with mellowed tannins, perfectly preserved fruit, balancing acidity and a medium-long aftertaste. Extremely elegant and enjoyable, though fully mature, will continue to drink nicely for several years. A wine that gives the perfect answer to the question "why should we age top Bordeaux". Having enjoyed this alongside several aged wines from various regions, we had a clear picture on which wines have the highest aging potential. You bet! Bordeaux, Bordeaux, Bordeaux!!!
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12/22/2011 - Dokken wrote: 92 Points
A perfectly mature wine with fantastic balance in palate betwenn still lively acidity, medium resolved and fine grained tannins against medium body and alcohol. Silky with red fruit, strawberry jam, tobacco and cedar. Lovely and medium+ finish.
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12/21/2011 - Stefanos T. wrote: 92 Points
Classic mature Pauillac at its maturity plateau - no sign of decline. Cedar, dark fruit and some floral lift. Rounded smooth palate of medium to high concentration and medium finish. Tasted along many other wines it somehow got overlooked but had it been alone to accompany an evening under candlelight it would have been memorable.
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5/25/2011 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
The nose showed subtle cherry and strawberry nuances, mixed with dark earth and a little wet forest floor. Medium body and short finish. This was showing very well, especially for the oldest wine of the evening, even if it was a bit square and uncomplicated. 70% CS.
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5/22/2011 - william perry wrote: 91 Points
cork was bad but the wine was not . decanted for three hours : Drak red but not muddy-- earthy minerals gives way to licorice and as another reviewer sid restrained red fruits, Smoke follows and lingers. Not as comeplex but each sip was something new. Very enjoyable
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3/28/2011 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Hard to believe this one's 40 years old. This is classical, left bank claret - savoury earth and tobacco framing gentle, restrained red fruited notes with touches of cedar and graphite emerging with more air. It's not about power or intensity, rather a wine that takes its time to slowly unravel flavours with a sense of elegance and restraint; beautiful stuff that's perfectly mature and resolved right now and wonderful to drink. Thanks Josh.
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12/9/2010 - Yiannis wrote: 92 Points
Drank over dinner with friends alongside another 5 reds from the 1970 vintage. This wine was in perfect condition and still so...youthful! Amazing given the fact that it is a second label. Color not observed properly due to insufficient light. Great Pauillac nose with ink, graphite, cedar, olive and dried flowers. Very elegant indeed. Mid-bodied with firm tanins, bright fruit and high acidity. Medium finish. With a longer finish I would have called it a masterpiece. Really impressive anyway.
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12/9/2010 - Stefanos T. wrote: 93 Points
We had this wine together with another 5 bottles from 1970. It was followed by Haut Brion. The bad thing with such tastings is that one puts his critical lenses on and part of the enjoyment of a perfectly good wine gets mitigated by comparison with other possibly better wines. Ok, Haut Brion was more substantial in comparison, but this was also a tremendous wine. Medium garnet not much browning, nose still fresh with pauillac aromas of graphite and a nice dried flower lift. Smooth and elegant mouth, had poise, structure very unlike the untamed beast that came before (Chateau Fortia tete de cru Chateauneuf). Wonderful mature wine, but still with lots of life in it, to drink on civilized occasions...
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5/29/2010 - Ali wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking young.
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4/8/2010 - anonymoose12345 wrote: 92 Points
Still has so much life! A real stunner that's drinking great.
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11/21/2009 - Wonder wrote: 92 Points
Still wild and crazy after all these years. Great color. Decanted for about 2 hrs. Plummy and yummy. If you have it, drink it within the next few years, max.
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4/15/2009 - JLeader wrote: 91 Points
A great showing. Beautifully evolved, and while on the slope down, it still has some time left. Structure and plummy fruit, with minerality and some earthy character, this stood up very well next to the 70 Latour, though not as deep or complex.
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2/11/1991 - FransS wrote: 92 Points
A Latour - Les Forts tasting: lovely deep, evolved colour, firm, ripe fruit, a lovely, fleshy taste, lots of fruit, juicy, but missing some tension.
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8/23/1986 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple. A lot of cassis and liquorice in the bouquet as well as beautiful oak. In the taste there is a lot of cassis, iron, good oak and bitterness. Powerful wine with a long aftertaste. Very pleasurable now and also a good future ahead.
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