Latour 1er Grand Cru Classé Pauillac, 2004

Latour 1er Grand Cru Classé Pauillac 2004 is a benchmark Left Bank Bordeaux from one of the most revered estates in the world. Crafted predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the famed gravel soils of Pauillac, this vintage offers classical structure, precision and remarkable longevity. As a First Growth, Château Latour has been synonymous with power, finesse and age-worthy claret for centuries, and the 2004 is a superb example of its timeless style in a cooler, more traditional Bordeaux year.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2004 Latour shows a deep, garnet core with just the first hints of brick at the rim, reflecting its evolution while still retaining impressive depth of color. The nose is beautifully refined and complex: blackcurrant, blackberry and cassis interwoven with cedar, graphite, tobacco leaf and pencil shavings, alongside subtle notes of cigar box, violets, damp earth and a touch of savory spice. On the palate, this is a quintessentially classical Pauillac—medium to full-bodied, focused and impeccably balanced rather than overtly opulent. Firm yet polished tannins frame layers of blackcurrant, black cherry and plum, wrapped in nuances of cedar wood, lead pencil, smoke, leather and dried herbs. The acidity is vibrant, lending freshness and precision, while the finish is long, mineral and persistent, with lingering notes of cassis and fine cigar tobacco. The 2004 is already drinking beautifully but still has the structure to continue evolving gracefully for another decade or more under good cellar conditions.

Production
Château Latour’s Grand Vin is sourced primarily from the estate’s legendary Enclos, a single contiguous vineyard sitting on deep Gunzian gravel over a clay subsoil overlooking the Gironde estuary. This unique terroir provides superb drainage, concentration and a distinctive mineral backbone, particularly well-suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are meticulously hand-harvested parcel by parcel at optimal ripeness, with strict sorting to retain only the finest berries. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled vats, with careful extraction to preserve fruit purity and tannin finesse, followed by long aging in a high proportion of new French oak barrels. This combination of great terroir, precision in the cellar and extended barrel maturation produces a wine of depth, structure and extraordinary longevity, true to the Latour style.

Food & Serving
The 2004 Latour shines alongside refined, savory dishes that complement its structure and complexity rather than overpower it. Think classic roast lamb with rosemary and garlic, entrecôte Bordelaise, grilled ribeye, venison or game birds, as well as dishes featuring wild mushrooms, truffles or aged hard cheeses such as Comté or mature cheddar. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight both aromatic nuance and textural finesse. For current drinking, decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended to allow the wine to fully open and soften its tannins; older, well-cellared bottles may require a gentler, shorter decanting primarily to remove sediment.

Producer
Château Latour is one of Bordeaux’s most iconic estates, recognized as a Premier Grand Cru Classé in the historic 1855 Classification and revered ever since for producing some of the world’s most long-lived Cabernet-based wines. Situated in the southern part of Pauillac, close to the Gironde estuary, Latour has a documented history dating back to at least the 14th century, with its name and emblem inspired by a medieval tower that once guarded the river. Over time, the estate has become a global reference for power, precision and consistency in Bordeaux, combining meticulous vineyard work with state-of-the-art winemaking. Regularly earning top critical acclaim and commanding strong demand from collectors, Latour is widely considered one of the definitive expressions of Pauillac and of classic, age-worthy Médoc claret.