December 4, 2022 - Mature red color with a dark center still; from the color you would not guess this is 53 years old...
On the nose a touch of "Morbidezza", autumn forest, wet leaves, pencil shavings and graphite; full and round with some leather notes.
On the palate fully resolved tannins, tertiary notes; fully ripe but not entering into decay.
Surprisingly smooth and alive and is coming out much better than expected; especially with keeping Michael Broadbent's earlier verdict "Not a good Latour" in mind.
To be clear: this is not a wine to rave about but considering the vintage which produced many hard and unyielding wines in Bordeaux, this is a positive surprise.
Bea even preferred it to the 71' Lynch Bages tasted two nights ago.
March 30, 2021 - Let me start by saying that I like old wine. I love their unique flavor which are unfindable elsewhere in the food world. Those flavors, which many do not appreciate, mesmerize me. They are unique and remind of the greatness possible with well made old wine.
The wine condition was compromised. The cork was recessed and wine level at just below shoulder. Wine drips out when laid on side. Cork fell into bottle on attempted open. The color is as expected brown edges but still a reddish brown hue in the center.
All that said this old dog can still run. Old as expected with aromas of cherry kirsch, some Armagnac and brandy notes. In mouth it is so sweet with faded cherry, still offering drying mouth feel, and still a fair amount of acidity.
The mid palette and finish sing with those oh so rare unique flavors only available in old wine. I get sweet and slightly rotted strawberry, plum skin on the finish which lingers for literally minutes. Just a lovely aged "Latour"
September 25, 2020 - SLDS - PR GC: Boot polish, violets, autumn leaves, cherry and graphite. Still showing some grip and fruit. This is in really good nick. Standing strongly at this age, very happy with this bottle.
July 14, 2018 - Restaurant had a hard time opening the wine as the cork broke apart for them. On opening, strong smell of petroleum, and initial taste similar. We let it breathe for an hour as we sipped the first glass. As that petroleum smell reduced, the wine got a bit better. But this wine is still thin, tannins are gone, and a slightly sweet wine lacking the normal complexities on the back. Maybe with overnight decanting it could be better. A pity.
May 30, 2016 - Highly disappointing. The cork must have shriveled/shrunk as there was wine on top of the cork upon opening the lid of the bottle. The colour gave me hopes that it would still be drinkable but the nose was tinny with petroleum waves. Terrible first tastes, became barely drinkable. Thin and absent of any real character. I hope this was a one-off singularly poor experience.
December 7, 2015 - Decanted to rid the sediment, and drunk immediately. Would have loved to give this a higher score, but unfortunately it was clearly past its prime. Thankfully we were lucky, this bottle was still eminently drinkable. Some blackcurrant and dark cherry fruit, with aromas of tobacco, leather, graphite and tar. Low acidity, medium well controlled body, medium(-) fully resolved tannins, and a very silky mouthfeel. The finish was medium and just a bit dusty; would probably have been longer and cleaner a decade ago! Not that you wouldn't already know this, but if you have one in the cellar, best find an opportunity to drink it up really soon.
October 24, 2015 - irony bloody rich concentrated and sweet leather and plums.
April 10, 2015 - Le meilleur vin de la soiré un grand vin , un chef d'oeuvre, je n'est jamais eu aussi d'émotions envers un vin , Le nez est encore très jeune pour un vin de 44 ans et c'est très charmeur la bouche est sublime les tanins viennent nous gratter un peu encore la longueur est interminable
un grand moment donc je me souviendrai longtemps
December 25, 2013 - Didn't want to open up at all. Nose with petrol and wood and virtually no taste. Really past its prime
December 27, 2009 - smoky, grilled meat notes with eucalyptus.