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Appellation – Pauillac

A terrific effort from Administrator Frederic Engerer and owner Francois Pinault, the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Latour exhibits a strong cassis character intermixed with notes of crushed rocks, earth, cedar, and forest floor. Racy, elegant, but powerful with medium to full body, and sweet tannin, it will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep for three decades. It is a very impressive offering.
Score: 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (171), June 2007

The wine of the vintage, Latours 2004 boasts a dense purple color as well as a classic nose of ink, black currants, sweet cherries, crushed rocks, and minerals. Even though it is aged in 100% new French oak, there is not a hint of woodiness. It possesses a beautiful texture, moderately high tannin, fabulous concentration, and a long, full-bodied finish. A brilliant wine from a challenging vintage, it should be at its apogee between 2013-2035. Kudos to everyone at Latour!
Score: 94/96 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (165), June 2006

After a 2003 production of less than 10,000 cases, there are a whopping 15,000 cases of the 2004 Latour. The harvest began on September 23 (Merlot) and finished on October 19. About 51% of the production made it into the final blend (89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc). At this early stage, Latour appears to be the wine of the Medoc, and provides additional evidence of why Latour is pushing slightly ahead of most of its first-growth rivals. It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a sweet perfume of crushed rocks, black currants, raspberries, and hints of wood as well as cold steel. It reveals the most density and depth of any of the Medoc first-growths. Manager Frederic Engerer believes the 2004 is closest in style to the 2002. By the standards of the vintage, which did not produce many big, powerful, deep, full-bodied wines, it is a large-scaled yet elegant wine with sweet tannin and plenty of depth. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030.
Score: 95/97 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (158), April 2005

The 2004 Latour is perhaps evolving slower than I expected, although it remains one of the finest Left Bank wines of the vintage. It has that quintessential graphite-scented bouquet intermixed with blackberry and cedar, although the liquorice note that I observed previously has receded. Again, there is wonderful definition. The palate is full-bodied but surprisingly more sultry than I expected, especially here where I was able to directly compare it with the other 2004 First Growths. It delivers the “authority” you expect from Latour, although I might be inclined just to give it another 2-3 years in bottle. Tasted September 2016.
Score: 95 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (229), February 2017

Captivating aromas of currants, black licorice and spices, with just a hint of sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Structured and racy red. Best after 2011.
Score: 95 James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2007

Intense currants, minerals and blackberries. Very floral and aromatic. Full-bodied, with super fine and long tannins. It’s concentrated but all in harmony. Tight and silky. This has a wonderful core of fruit. Racy. Very, very impressive. This is 90 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. Normally it’s 80 per cent. They say it’s a Cabernet vintage, and it shows in this wine
Score: 95/100 James Suckling, Wine Spectator (April 05), April 2005

Healthy but not excessively deep crimson. Very dark, mineral, very Latour and classical. Iodine and other minerals. Great balance, Dense and fine, more polished than the old slightly more rustic style but with definite terroir expression. Great finesse and power all the way through. Although pretty tough and high in tannins with its IPT of 70, it also seems remarkably integrated rather than made up of entirely different elements. Lovely compaction. Quite a bit of acid. Lovely sweetness. Drink 2015-40.
Score: 19 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, August 2005