Les Forts de Latour 2003

The 2003 Les Forts de la Tour possesses a dense ruby/plum/purple color in addition to notions of cold steel, lead pencil shavings, and creme de cassis. Full-bodied, opulent, heady, rich, and lush, it can be drunk now or cellared for 15+ years. What can one say about proprietor Francois Pinault and his manager, Frederic Engerer? A strong argument can be made that in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, Latour produced the wine of the vintage, although it has plenty of competition in the Northern Medoc in 2003. Moreover, the bargains are the estate’s least expensive cuvee, Pauillac, followed by Les Forts de Latour, Latour’s second wine which continues to increase in quality.

Beautiful aromas of berry, currant and toasted oak. Intense currant character. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, intense finish. This is very structured and superclean. Excellent stuff. The second wine of Latour. Best after 2011

Very deep garnet-black colored, this vintage offers a seriously ripe and expressive nose of crème de cassis and dried plum with a savory, meaty, gamey undercurrent. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a good density and firm, grainy tannins plus a refreshing backbone of acid giving lift through the long earthy finish. It's great to drink now but there's certainly no rush to drink-up

Zesty lively transparent fruit. Racy. Long and rather impressive. Well balanced. Though not big. (Average group score: 16.5)