Robert Parker |
98 RP - On each of the previous occasions I have had this wine it has flirted with perfection. This bottle was again a riveting, opulently-textured drinking experience. Its spectacularly perfumed bouquet consists of truffles, black tea, soy, minerals, and copious sweet prune, coffee-infused, black currant fruit. Sweet on the attack, with a rare opulence, a voluptuous texture, full body, terrific freshness, and a chewy, fleshy, succulent finish, this has always been great stuff. This bottle was no exception. It has been fully mature for 25-30 years, but well-stored or larger format bottlings will last another two decades. The 1949 Latour is one of those wines that can take a taster's breath away. It is a wine of extraordinary richness, yet it is perfectly balanced. It has extraordinary extraction of flavor, perfect balance, layers of flavor, and a finish that is both supple and authoritative. |