1997 Latour

A disappointment. This bottle looked more evolved and paler than the Lafite. Rather light and sweet. Definitely atypical Latour in an off vintage. Lacks lift and vivacity. Solid but rather simple with a very dry finish. I’m giving quite late drinking dates on the assumption that this wine will behave like other vintages of Latour – even though it doesn’t taste like them. (JR)

Lively crimson with a pale rim. Very fresh and distinguished nose. Very classical. Not especially intense. Big, fruity impact at first. Rather round and supple already. Simple. Quite muted acidity. Not especially long. This, according to FE, was just about the only obvious year in which the wine was positively improved by use of deliberate concentration techniques, because the must was essentially well balanced, just dilute (JR)

Very, very deep crimson. Scented and more fragrant than most Latours. Noble, concentrated. No sacrifice. No faults. Bit dry and austere at the end. (JR)