Latour Pauillac 1er Cru 1997

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Latour
Label Name:
 
Pauillac 1er Cru
Vintage:
 
1997
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Pauillac, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon 76%, Merlot 19%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 1%
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) ~89; Wine Spectator ~88; Rene Gabriel 18/20; merchant/auction notes cite 90–92 range for some assessments

Tasting Note
Medium-full Pauillac: blackcurrant, raspberry, tobacco, cedar and graphite with walnut and liquorice hints; cocoa/coffee oak spice, velvety tannins and a mineral backbone, leading to a smooth, medium-long evolved finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, ribeye/steak, beef stew, game, aged hard cheeses. Asian: Peking duck, char siu, Korean BBQ beef, braised short ribs, beef rendang, rich mushroom stir-fries.

Production Method
Traditional Bordeaux vinification: destemmed grapes, fermented in vats, malolactic conversion, then aged ~18–20 months in French oak barrels (portion new oak).

Vineyard Info
Château Latour is a 1855 First Growth in Pauillac; Grand Vin is made from the enclosed 'Enclos' vineyards. Long-established estate now owned by François Pinault (Groupe Artemis).