🏰【Rated 97 points by James Suckling, this 2019 Les Forts de Latour is a powerhouse, offering exquisite aromas of lavender, cigar ash, and Spanish cedar, with a powerful, ultrafine tannic backbone and a long, beautiful finish.】 The 2019 vintage in Bordeaux was a warm, hot, and long growing season with refreshing rain, and Pauillac had a successful vintage. This wine is the second label of Château Latour, produced with the same meticulous care as the Grand Vin, and is certified organic. It's considered a benchmark Pauillac and often outperforms classified growths. Expect an intense violet hue, with a plethora of black fruits like cassis, damson, and crunchy black cherry, complemented by cedarwood, smoke, and tobacco. It is medium to full-bodied with crushed stone infusing black fruit, ripe currants, leather, graphite, and cedary spice. It is elegant, fresh, lifted, and packed with sweet deep red fruits, spice, oregano, and leafy notes. 🍴 Pairs excellently with roasted duck breast, grilled ribeye, and mushroom risotto. Other great pairings include grilled lamb chops with herbs, braised short ribs, pan-seared duck breast with berry sauce, aged hard cheeses like Comté, and roasted venison with juniper. Robust and spicy dishes, beef (steak with pepper sauce, roast beef), game (roast venison, duck), mature cheeses (Cheddar, Roquefort, Gouda), and dark chocolate are also recommended. 🥂 This exceptional Pauillac is perfect for cellaring alongside a First Growth Bordeaux collection, gifting a serious Bordeaux enthusiast, or celebrating a special anniversary dinner featuring red meat or game. Serve at 16–18°C (60-64°F) in a large Bordeaux glass. Decanting for at least one to two hours will allow its concentrated tannin structure to open and aromatic complexity to emerge. Drink after 2028.