{"product_id":"chateau-latour-1996","title":"Château Latour 1996","description":"\u003cp\u003eChâteau Latour 1996 is a benchmark Pauillac from one of Bordeaux’s most revered estates, combining power, precision, and remarkable longevity. A Grand Vin of serious pedigree, it comes from one of the Médoc’s most prized terroirs and reflects the historic prestige that has made Latour one of the world’s most dependable names in fine wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, 1996 Latour typically shows a medium to deep garnet hue with remarkable vibrancy for its age. The nose is profound and layered, offering earthy, meaty, gamey complexity alongside notes of blueberry preserves, crème de cassis, pencil shavings, and classical Pauillac graphite.\n\nOn the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated, with muscular dark fruit wrapped around a firm, ripe, grainy structure. The finish is exceptionally long, and despite its maturity, the wine still carries plenty of youthful fruit and energy. This is a bottle with serious aging potential, and one that continues to evolve beautifully over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Latour’s vineyards surround the estate in Pauillac and are rooted in an exceptional terroir of deep gravel and clay, topped with large rounded stones that absorb and release heat long into the evening. The vineyard is planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and the 1996 vintage benefited especially from later-ripening Cabernet in the Médoc. The grapes were harvested in a year marked by a hot, dry August and a more mixed September, before fine weather returned in October; vinification at Latour is carried out with the precision expected of a First Growth estate, supported by modern cellar facilities that were completed just before the harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a wine for classic, richly flavored dishes such as roast lamb, beef Wellington, grilled ribeye, venison, or slow-braised game. It also pairs wonderfully with truffle-accented dishes and mature hard cheeses. Serve at around 16–18°C, and decant if possible, especially if the bottle has been stored well, to allow the wine’s aromatic complexity and structure to fully open.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Latour is one of Bordeaux’s most legendary estates, with origins dating back to the 14th century, when the original tower that gave the property its name was built during the Hundred Years’ War. Classified as a Premier Cru Classé in the historic 1855 classification, it remains one of only four Médoc estates at that level. Owned since 1993 by François Pinault, Château Latour is internationally celebrated for producing some of the most powerful, long-lived, and highly sought-after wines in Bordeaux, and since 2015 the estate has been fully farmed organically, reflecting its commitment to both quality and sustainability.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Latour","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54251995431249,"sku":"FW-1806","price":919.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/latour_1996_0_75.png?v=1783442681","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/chateau-latour-1996","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}