{"product_id":"2012-chateau-latour-pauillac","title":"2012 Chateau Latour Pauillac","description":"\u003cp\u003e97 Decanter - This will be by far the biggest release since Latour brought in the new system, as the 2012 has not been on the market before. It's a good one to start with as this is a vintage where the drinking window is starting to come into view. This is pure liquorice, graphite and profoundly dark fruits, gourmet brushed damson and crushed stones, with a silky, appealingly open texture. The tannins are as bracing as you hope for from this estate, not giving an inch yet, but there is air between them and the structure is starting to loosen up. Harvest from September 24 to October 16, under rainy conditions after a super hot summer and early September that ensured the grapes stayed in good condition, but turned the concentration from impenetrable to an altogether more approachable style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pipProdProReviews_review\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"\u003e96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - Medium to deep garnet colored, the nose slowly, measuredly emerges with notions of preserved Morello cherries, baked blackcurrants and blackberry compote, giving way to nuances of pencil shavings, unsmoked cigars, Chinese five spice and sandalwood plus ever so subtle hints of cardamom and eucalyptus. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit preserves with a firm, grainy-textured frame and fantastic freshness, finishing with a veritable firework display of lingering spices and minerals. This is a more restrained, relatively elegant vintage of Latour that may not have that “iron fist in a velvet glove” power of the greatest vintages but nonetheless struts its superior terroir and behind-the-scenes savoir faire with impressive panache. It is drinking nicely now with suitably rounded-off, approachable tannins, and the tertiary characters are just beginning to bring some more cerebral elements into the compote of temptingly primary black fruits.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pipProdProReviews_review\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pipProdProReviews_review\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e95 Wine Spectator - \u003c\/span\u003eThis features a terrific, gorgeously delineated graphite note that runs from start to finish, letting the dark plum, black cherry and cassis fruit play out beautifully. Shows a lovely backdrop of charcoal and iron on the finish. Ever so slightly rigid, with a strong graphite expression, this is straight rather than expansive in feel, but seriously long nonetheless.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pipProdProReviews_review\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pipProdProReviews_review\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"\u003e***\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pipProdProReviews_review\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThe 2012 Château Latour is a commanding but unusually refined expression of this First Growth: unmistakably powerful and mineral, yet less massive and forbidding than Latour from a blockbuster vintage.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Grand Vin comes from old vines in the heart of \u003cstrong\u003eL’Enclos\u003c\/strong\u003e, Latour’s privileged gravel terroir beside the Gironde estuary. The blend is \u003cstrong\u003e90.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.6% Merlot and 0.2% Petit Verdot\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chateau-latour.com\/en\/a-time-for-sharing\/le-grand-vin-de-chateau-latour?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eChâteau Latour\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlackcurrant, blackberry compote and Morello cherry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGraphite, crushed stone and cedar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCigar leaf, sandalwood and subtle smoke\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLiquorice, violet, cardamom and a cool eucalyptus note\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDense, finely grained tannins and vibrant acidity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA long, controlled, mineral finish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompared with the 2012 Les Forts de Latour, the Grand Vin is \u003cstrong\u003edeeper, darker and substantially more structured\u003c\/strong\u003e. Les Forts is already relatively open and graceful; Château Latour remains tightly coiled, with greater concentration, tannic authority and length. Its power is expressed through precision rather than weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2026, it can be enjoyed with substantial aeration, but it remains a young wine. The fruit is beginning to integrate with early cedar, tobacco and savory complexity, while much of the wine’s potential is still held in reserve. Published assessments generally place it around \u003cstrong\u003e96–97 points\u003c\/strong\u003e, with a broad drinking horizon extending to approximately \u003cstrong\u003e2050 and potentially beyond\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.farrvintners.com\/wine.php?wine=34733\u0026amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf opening now, stand the bottle upright beforehand and decant for \u003cstrong\u003etwo to three hours\u003c\/strong\u003e, tasting periodically. Serve at \u003cstrong\u003e16–18°C \/ 60–64°F\u003c\/strong\u003e with rib roast, lamb, venison, duck or other simply prepared, deeply savory dishes. This is a contemplative, slow-evolving wine rather than an immediately generous one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"TWINS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50421664514354,"sku":"50000000007857","price":719.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0044\/7165\/2425\/files\/2012Latour.png?v=1785977157","url":"https:\/\/www.vintagewinemerchants.com\/products\/2012-chateau-latour-pauillac","provider":"Vintage Wine Merchants","version":"1.0","type":"link"}