Château Latour 2012 - 1er Grand Cru Classé

Bordeaux Total René Gabriel:

CHÂTEAU LATOUR: GROSSER KLASSIKER

Zwei 2012er-Pauillac’s werden mit 19/20 bewertet! Somit muss ich der Latour den Spitzenplatz mit zwar mit dem umwerfenden Pichon-Lalande teilen. Das heisst aber auch, dass er somit die zwei wichtigsten Preiskonkurrenten Mouton-Rothschild und Lafite-Rothschild deutlich hinter sich lässt. Latour setzt – dem fantastischen Terroir sei Dank – permanent auf den Cabernet Sauvignon. Hier eine Auflistung des wichtigen Löwenanteil im Blend der letzten Jahre.

2012: 90.2 % Cabernet Sauvignon
2011: 84.5 % Cabernet Sauvignon
2010: 90.5 % Cabernet Sauvignon
2009: 91.3 % Cabernet Sauvignon
2008: 94.0 % Cabernet Sauvignon
2007: 91.0 % Cabernet Sauvignon
2006: 86.0 % Cabernet Sauvignon

Der Latour 2012 schmeckt so richtig nach der guten alten Zeit und gibt sich somit als ein geduldiger, aber auch versprechender Klassiker. Nicht zuletzt auch, wenn man ein weiteres, in letzter Zeit bei vielen Spitzen-Crus oft kritisierten, weiteres Detail betrachtet: Der Alkoholgehalt liegt bei beruhigenden 12.8 Volumenprozenten!

90.2 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.6 % Merlot, 0.2 % Petit Verdot. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit violetten und schwarzen Reflexen. Viel dunkles Malz im ersten Ansatz, schwarze Oliven, Pumpernickelbrot, Korinthen, Rauch, Périgourd-Trüffel, Teer und getrocknete Heidelbeeren. Erhabener Gaumen, der Cabernet Sauvignon ist mächtig und bildet eine Gaumen umfassende, verlangende, aber auch ausgeglichene Adstringenz. Ein grosser Klassiker, fast schon im alten Latour-Stil. Erinnert mich stark an eine Mischung aus 1988 - 1986 und 1995. Beim Vergleich mit dem letzt genannten Milléssime bin ich mir ganz sicher, denn wir konnten den 1995er Latour gleichzeitig mit diesem 2012er-Primeurmuster bei unserem Besuch verkosten. Motto: Den zu jungen Spucken - den fast reifen Schlucken! (19/20). Trinkreife 2025-2055. Bewertung 19/20. -René Gabriel-

Robert Parker Wine Advocate:

The 2012 Latour is a blend of 90.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.6% Merlot and 0.2% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep garnet colored, the nose slowly, measuredly emerges with notions of preserved Morello cherries, baked blackcurrants and blackberry compote, giving way to nuances of pencil shavings, unsmoked cigars, Chinese five spice and sandalwood plus ever so subtle hints of cardamom and eucalyptus. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit preserves with a firm, grainy-textured frame and fantastic freshness, finishing with a veritable firework display of lingering spices and minerals. This is a more restrained, relatively elegant vintage of Latour that may not have that “iron fist in a velvet glove” power of the greatest vintages but nonetheless struts its superior terroir and behind-the-scenes savoir faire with impressive panache. It is drinking nicely now with suitably rounded-off, approachable tannins, and the tertiary characters are just beginning to bring some more cerebral elements into the compote of temptingly primary black fruits. But, if you’re looking to drink it in full, flamboyant swing, give it another 5-10 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20-25 years+. Drink Date 2020-2050. Rating 96+/100. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown-

Vinous:

The 2012 Latour has a potent bouquet of blackberry, graphite and distinctive tertiary notes [instead of more marine scents observed four years earlier]. Initially, the palate is slightly disjointed on the entry and displays a subtle herbal quality, plus hints of pencil shavings. The 2012 demands a few minutes to really coalesce and achieve the precision and pixelation that have been the hallmark of this Grand Vin in its youth. Layers of black fruit coat the mouth, and a bitter edge lends tension, particularly toward the very persistent finish. Though its release implies, and the rhetoric from the château indicates, that it is ready to drink, if you want my advice, cellar the 2012 for another five or six years to witness it in full flight. It has always been a candidate for wine of the vintage... just have a bit of patience. Drink Date 2027-2055. Rating 96/100.  -Neal Martin-

Jancis Robinson:

As usual this grand vin is based on the estate's oldest vines in the 47-ha Enclos. The original plan had been to release this wine, and Les Forts 2014, on 18 March 2020 but this was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic until 27 May. Frédéric Engerer described the vintage as 'quite hectic with lots of rain and then lots of heat, including two heat spikes that affected Merlot, and also some rain during harvest.' April saw 20 days of rain but temperatures were low enough to stave off fungal disease. Flowering of Cabernet Sauvignon on 6 June was even. August was very dry whereas there was heavy rainfall during harvest. Picking started on 24 September and didn't end until 16 October.
Dark blackish crimson. Luscious-looking colour. Profound, complex with lots of depth. Really complete and spicy with a dry, very Latour, mineral nose. Not the most concentrated Latour but with great character and Latour expression. Very muscular and not nearly ready. Drink Date 2030-2050. Rating 18/20. -Jancis Robinson-

James Suckling:

Very perfumed with hints of minerals, currants, wet earth and stones. Full-bodied, muscular and chewy. Polished tannins, tight acidity and a savory finish. Very reserved. Muscular. Rating 94/100. -JamesSuckling.com-