2005 Chateau Latour 1er Cru, Pauillac

Very open and beautiful now with currants, light chocolate and spices. Incense as well. Full-bodied, tight and reserved with a fantastic center palate of fruit and firm tannins. Closed and hiding behind the structure and depth. Needs time to open still but already a joy to taste (drink!). 

99 points jamessuckling.com

The 2000 Latour (a relatively abundant 14,000 cases compared to what they produced in 2009, 2008, or 2005) is “packed and stacked.” The extremely rich, black/purple color to the rim is followed by a wine with some subtle smoke, loads of minerals, a hint of vanilla, and plenty of creme de cassis as well as roasted meat and a slight scorched earth character. Broad, savory, and rich, the wine seems to be about 5 years away from full maturity and should drink well for at least 40-50 more years. A great effort, probably eclipsed only by 2003 and 2009.  Drink 2010-2060.

98 points robertparker.com 

Few names in the wine world carry the gravitas of Château Latour. Classified as a First Growth in the famous 1855 Classification, the estate has stood watch over the Gironde estuary since the fourteenth century, with its iconic tower becoming one of Bordeaux's enduring symbols. Under the careful stewardship of the Pinault family, Latour continues to produce wines that define the heights Cabernet Sauvignon can reach.

The vineyards occupy one of Pauillac's greatest sites, a mosaic of deep gravel soils overlooking the Gironde River. Cabernet Sauvignon thrives here, developing extraordinary concentration while the nearby water moderates temperatures and extends the growing season. The exceptional 2005 vintage delivered wines of remarkable structure and longevity, with Latour producing one of the legendary wines of the decade.

The colour remains remarkably youthful, a deep garnet with only subtle brick tones at the rim. Aromas of cassis, blackcurrant and blackberry unfold alongside cigar box, cedar and graphite. With time in the glass emerge layers of tobacco leaf, truffle, pencil shavings and exotic spice. The palate is monumental yet perfectly balanced, combining immense concentration with astonishing freshness and precision. Tannins remain powerful but beautifully integrated, carrying wave after wave of dark fruit, mineral and savoury complexity through an extraordinarily long finish.

This is a wine worthy of the finest tables, pairing magnificently with roast venison, dry aged rib eye, beef Wellington or wild mushroom pithivier with black truffle. Drinking magnificently with extended decanting, yet the structure and pedigree suggest it will continue to evolve for decades to come.