Les Forts de Latour 2015

The 2015 Les Forts de Latour has a very sophisticated bouquet with that subtle marine-like influence upon the black fruit, hints of graphite and pencil box, all extremely well defined if much tighter and more backward than I was anticipating. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, denser than the 2014 Les Forts de Latour, yet still quite sensual for a Pauillac with a caressing texture. There is excellent freshness here, partly due to the fact that these days they are picking some parcels a little earlier. As it did in barrel, it fans out wonderfully toward the finish, but what I really like here is the unusually long aftertaste, residues of graphite and black fruit lingering for 45+ seconds after the wine has departed. Superb. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2045.

Score: 93-94
Neal Martin