1991 Latour

The 1991 Latour is a supposed "off vintage" that I have not tasted for a decade or more. It has a fully mature nose, though certainly not past its best at 33 years of age, with dark, brambly red fruit, loam and light floral scents that percolate through with time. This is an atypically "gentle" nose for a Latour. The palate is medium-bodied and delicate, with a savory entry, fine acidity and melted tannins. It's less structured than 20 years ago when I last tasted this Latour, yet cohesive with gentle grip on the finish. This is lovely. Tasted at a book event dinner at Noble Rot Broadway.

Magnum. The 1991 frost-shrunk Bordeaux vintage was so small that it is quite rare to taste a 1991 nowadays. Still quite purple. Engerer reminded us that their best vineyards were not in fact badly affected but this wine still tasted extremely youthful and unformed. Very concentrated and dense – minerals and a hint of cassis rather than flesh. Still embryonic. Wait.

Magnum .  The 1991 frost-shrunk Bordeaux vintage was so small that it is quite rare to taste a 1991 nowadays.  Still quite purple. Engerer reminded us that their best vineyards were not in fact badly affected but this wine still tasted extremely youthful and unformed. Very concentrated and dense – minerals and a hint of cassis rather than flesh. Still embryonic. Wait. (JR)