Latour 1961 (750ML)

100 WA / 99 VM / 99 JA

#2 Jane Anson Top 10 Left Bank Bordeaux 2024

Port-like, with an unctuous texture, and a dark garnet color with considerable amber at the edge, the 1961 Latour possesses a viscosity and thickness. One of the three bottles served at the Chateau's tasting revealed a surprisingly aggressive, minty, herbaceous nose, but the other two bottles were liquid perfection, exhibiting fragrant, cedary, truffle, leather, mineral, and sweet, jammy aromatics, full-bodied, voluptuous textures, exquisite purity and concentration, and a layered, highly-nuanced finish that represents the essence of compellingly great wine.

The 1961 has been fully mature for over 15 years, but it seems to get richer, holding onto its succulence and fat, and developing more aromatic nuances without losing any sweetness or concentration. An extraordinary wine, it is unquestionably one of the Bordeaux legends of the century! Anticipated maturity: now-2025. - Robert Parker

The 1961 Latour is a legendary wine, one that flirts with perfection and this was consistent with the bottle poured at the Latour vertical three weeks earlier. After so many years it remains deep in color with light bricking on the rim. The bouquet is utterly ethereal, so pure and refined with vestiges of black fruit, pencil lead and mint, though the latter is not as pronounced as on the 1945. The palate is intense although not as aloof as I found the 1961 a few years ago. Perhaps it is mellowing with age, yet the symmetry of this Pauillac is astonishing, the edginess and aristocratic personality almost overwhelming. It is a deeply impressive wine, not caring a jot about doling out sensory pleasure. However that is quintessential Latour. Tasted at the International Business & Wine First Growth Dinner at the Four Seasons. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

Of the three 1961 wines tasted over an incredible lunch in Hong Kong, Latour remains the youngest and most identifiably Pauillac in character, despite being in a half bottle. Gorgeous deep plum colour, subdued on the first nose as the fruits remain concentrated and intense, if you can believe it, and need a good few moments to begin to uncurl. Expect waves of cocoa bean, black truffle and grilled earth, with turmeric spice and cigar box, reflecting the tiny yield and concentration that was evident, so we are told, from the first years of its life. Not as joyful perhaps as the Mouton, but seriously impressive, just an absolute lesson in how great Bordeaux can age and why we fall in love with it. 20th century Bordeaux legends Edmund Penning-Rowsell and Michael Broadbent both believed Latour 1961 to be the wine of the vintage (in 2000 Broadbent believed it still had half a century of life ahead of it, and he might just be right). A fascinating history also, as this was last year when Latour was entirely owned by descendants of the famous 18th century 'prince of vines' Nicolas-Alexandre de Segur before selling up to Lord Cowdray the following year. Am now obsessed with trying it out of bottle again rather than half bottle to recapture that extra point that I have awarded with every other tasting of this legendary wine...-Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux