{"product_id":"2017-chateau-latour-les-forts-de-latour","title":"2017 Chateau Latour Les Forts de Latour","description":"\u003cp\u003eLes Forts de Latour 2017 is the second wine of the legendary First Growth Château Latour in Pauillac, crafted with virtually the same precision and care as the Grand Vin. Sourced from plots within and around the famed Enclos, it offers a more approachable, earlier-drinking expression of this iconic estate while still delivering impressive depth, structure, and longevity. In 2017, the wine confirms its status at Médoc Grand Cru Classé level, bridging the gap between high pedigree and relative accessibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2017 Les Forts de Latour shows an intense, deep ruby-purple colour that hints at both concentration and youthful energy. The nose opens with refined blackcurrant, blackberry, and ripe plum, layered with notes of graphite, cedar, and tobacco leaf, supported by delicate floral nuances and a touch of spice from the oak.\n\nOn the palate, this blend of 65.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 0.8% Cabernet Franc is polished and precise. The Cabernet provides backbone, cassis and graphite, while the generous Merlot component adds plush, dark fruit and a rounder mid-palate, making the wine more open and supple in its youth. Fine-grained, elegant tannins give a silky yet structured mouthfeel, leading to an energetic, persistent finish with fresh acidity and subtle savoury undertones. While more approachable earlier than the Grand Vin, this 2017 still has excellent aging potential, evolving gracefully over 10–20 years in a good cellar, developing greater complexity with tertiary notes of cigar box, truffle and dried flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Latour’s vineyards lie at the southern end of Pauillac on the border with Saint-Julien, on some of the most revered terroir in Bordeaux: deep gravel over a well-draining subsoil, perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate covers around 60 hectares, planted predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon (about 78%), complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. In 2017, after a cold, dry winter, mild March conditions encouraged an early and even budbreak, followed by a dry spring and a moderately warm, dry summer with cool mornings that favoured slow, steady ripening. Localised spring frosts affected some parcels outside the Enclos, but overall conditions remained balanced, with early, rapid flowering and a largely dry June and summer. September showers did not compromise quality, and harvest took place under nearly ideal conditions from 11 September (Merlot) to 4 October (Cabernet Sauvignon). As with the Grand Vin, Les Forts de Latour is produced using meticulous parcel selection, manual harvesting, and rigorous sorting. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled vats, followed by aging in French oak barrels, 50–60% of which are new, allowing for integration of oak complexity without overwhelming the purity of fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLes Forts de Latour 2017 is a classic match for refined meat dishes—think roast lamb with rosemary, entrecôte steak with béarnaise, or slow-braised beef short ribs. It also pairs beautifully with game birds, veal, and richly flavoured poultry, as well as mature hard cheeses such as Comté, aged Gouda, or British cheddar. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight its aromatic detail and freshness. For younger bottles, decanting for 1–2 hours will help the wine open up and soften the tannins; more mature bottles may need only a gentle splash decant to remove sediment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Latour is one of the most illustrious names in the wine world, a Premier Grand Cru Classé of the 1855 Bordeaux Classification and a benchmark for Pauillac and Cabernet-based wines globally. With a history that stretches back centuries, Latour’s reputation has been built on its extraordinary terroir in the Enclos and an uncompromising pursuit of quality. Les Forts de Latour, first bottled under its own name in 1966, was originally tied to a historic parcel within the Enclos and has since evolved into one of Bordeaux’s most respected second wines, often rivaling classified growths in quality. Today, Château Latour stands as a reference point for precision, longevity, and finesse in Bordeaux, with Les Forts de Latour offering an exceptional way to experience the estate’s style and standards at a more approachable price and in a slightly earlier drinking window.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Latour","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54251814584657,"sku":"GCW-LATO-17304-1","price":299.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/2017_Chateau_Latour_Les_Forts_de_Latour.png?v=1783441597","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/2017-chateau-latour-les-forts-de-latour","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}