Château Latour Forts de Latour 2017

Les Forts de Latour 2017 is the celebrated second wine of the legendary Château Latour, crafted with the same rigor and precision as the Grand Vin, but offering earlier approachability. This Pauillac red from Bordeaux’s Left Bank combines classic Cabernet-driven structure with polished elegance, delivering purity of fruit, refined tannins, and a bright, focused profile. Sourced largely from dedicated parcels just inland from Latour’s famed Enclos, this cuvée has, over the decades, earned a reputation as one of Bordeaux’s benchmark second wines for serious collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Forts de Latour 2017 shows a deep, vibrant ruby color with a youthful purple rim, signaling both concentration and freshness. The nose opens with lifted aromas of minty berries, blackcurrant and ripe plum, layered with graphite, pencil shavings, subtle cedar, and a hint of crushed violets and spice. On the palate, this is medium to full-bodied, elegant and finely tuned rather than massive. A core of pure cassis, dark plum and blackberry is framed by sleek, well-knit tannins and a lively, precise acidity that keeps the wine bright and focused. Notes of tobacco leaf, graphite, and a gentle toast from the oak emerge on the long, poised finish. The 2017 is approachable relatively young thanks to its supple texture, but has the structure and balance to age gracefully for 10–15 years, developing more savory, cedar, and truffle nuances with time in bottle.

Production
Les Forts de Latour 2017 is produced in Pauillac, on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, from gravelly soils over clay and limestone that are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and its Bordeaux companions. The fruit comes predominantly from meticulously tended, dedicated parcels located inland from the historic Enclos of Château Latour, near Château Haut-Batailley, with strict selection to ensure only the best lots enter the blend. Harvest is carried out parcel by parcel, typically by hand, to pick at optimal ripeness, followed by careful sorting in the cellar. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled vats, with gentle extraction to preserve finesse and precision, and the wine is then aged in French oak barrels (a portion new) to build texture and complexity while maintaining the purity and clarity of the fruit.

Food & Serving
Forts de Latour 2017 is a superb partner for classic dishes such as roast lamb with rosemary, grilled or pan-seared beef, veal chops, duck breast, or game birds, as well as richer dishes featuring mushrooms, truffles, or aged hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight its freshness and aromatics. Young bottles will benefit from 1–2 hours in a decanter to allow the tannins to soften and the bouquet to fully unfold, while more mature bottles can be opened and gently aerated shortly before serving.

Producer
Château Latour is one of Bordeaux’s most revered First Growth estates, with a documented history stretching back to the 14th century and a modern reputation built on producing some of Pauillac’s most long-lived, profound wines. Located at the southern end of Pauillac, adjacent to the border with Saint-Julien, Latour’s gravelly Enclos and surrounding parcels are regarded as some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon terroir in the world. Les Forts de Latour, first officially released in the 1960s, has evolved from a traditional second wine into a meticulously crafted cuvée with its own identity, consistently earning critical acclaim and often outperforming many classified growths. The estate’s focus on low yields, rigorous selection, and sustainable vineyard practices has cemented its status as a benchmark producer, with Les Forts de Latour representing one of the most reliable gateways into the Latour style.

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