Latour 1998

Latour 1998 is a full-bodied, Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine from the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux. Château Latour is one of the oldest Bordeaux wine producing properties in the appellation of Pauillac and has a history dating back to the 14th Century. It was classified as a First Growth in 1855 and is widely regarded as one of the most consistent of all the elite châteaux, with a reputation for wines of remarkable longevity. On the 1998 grand vin. "As with many of the wines from 1998 that I have tasted recently, the Latour was surprisingly open and approachable. Today the wine has a smoky, almost roasted nose with black plum and fig fruit, hints of smoke, leather, and an undercurrent of ground coffee. The texture is surprisingly open and soft but not falling apart. It is drinking well today and doubtless will hold for another 10 to 15 years but is probably not one for long-term ageing. The spring and the growing season were hot and dry, and although there was rain at harvest the grapes were able to resist rot and dilution due to their thick skins."