TN: 1990 Château Latour Grand Vin (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac)

WvanGorp · June 18, 2009, 9:27pm

1990 Château Latour Grand Vin - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (6/18/2009)
I don’t give out 100 points easily, but everyone agreed this was a perfect bottle. I bought it at a wine restaurant a year ago in Switzerland, where the bottle had been stored in a cold cellar since release. The wine was then stored in a friend’s cellar in Bordeaux, and we decided tonight was the night to drink it. The wine was fresh, with that classic cigar box nose and a complex palate that showed tobacco, spice, and some macerated fruits. The finish was spectacular. We kept going back to this wine over and over. In the company of a 1948 Haut Brion (not a great year) and a 1949 Volnay en magnum, this was the WOTN. My friend Dirk summed it up nicely: If it were the three of us, we’d want a magnum to share as an aperitif. Then we’d want a magnum with dinner. Then we’d want a magnum of this for dessert, and we’d still probably want some more. (100 pts.)

Eric_LeVine · June 18, 2009, 9:47pm

Green with envy, Bravo Wilfred!

Rob_MacKay · June 18, 2009, 10:13pm

ToddFrench · June 18, 2009, 10:29pm

Bravo, and congratulations, Wilfred. Coming from you, I can safely believe it truly WAS a 100 point wine! I actually found myself saying ‘wow!’ out loud as I read the note.

Now THAT’S the way to enjoy Bordeaux (your trip, I mean!).

Loren_Sonkin · June 18, 2009, 11:20pm

Perfect way to share the bottle. Nice that the wine showed so well. Thanks for the post!

Phil_Wilkins · June 18, 2009, 11:34pm

Noicccceeeeeeee, except for the “classic cigar box nose”. My idea of hell!

Brent_C_l_a_y_t_o_n · June 18, 2009, 11:40pm

Phil,

Seriously? The lead pencil/cedar shavings/cigar box thing in great Bdx curls my toes. That’s when you know you have a winner.

Phil_Wilkins · June 18, 2009, 11:54pm

Yep, seriously! You know how folks harp on about brett in CdP being bad, well ‘lead pencil/cedar shavings/cigar box’ in Cab blends holds a similar disgust for me. I’ve never liked it, and although an intrinsic part of Bdx blends the same can be said of CdP & brett. Lurve brett, dislike cigar box/cedar.

Chris_Kravitz · June 19, 2009, 3:12am

Wilfred, 100 points from you gives me high hopes for the mag I do own .

I do find it hard to believe that the wine is even remotely ready…If you had a single bottle when would you suggest pulling the cork. I was thinking of my 50th bday in 10 years.

WvanGorp · June 19, 2009, 4:51am

Our bottle was 750, so your mag will of course take longer. In ten years, it should be singing! I can’t think of a better bottle for a 50th birthday. Should be pretty great, Chris!