2018 Latour Martillac
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Tasting notes
Ok, I am cheating a little putting this within the value category, as it comes in at just over €40 in most retail stores in France, but it's still a whole lot of wine for the price, and it has blossomed since I last tasted in two years ago. Black chocolate, blueberry, smoked cedar and cola. 40% new oak, harvest September 17 to October 2. Tasted in Melbourne at a Bordeaux dinner,
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Very pale. Sweet oak is a bit obvious. Then there is lime flavour. Fast fade on the end. A tad tight and tart for the moment but at least it has some potential for development. (JR)
Powerful with impact, has plenty of signature Pessac Leognan confidence and deft rich fruits, blackberry and black cherry straying ovr to ripe fig. Smoked cedar and clove suggest pretty hefty extraction and needs more time in bottle. 40% new oak, harvest September 17 to October 2.
The 2018 Latour-Martillac is generous on the nose, offering plenty of black and red fruit, and touches of mint and menthol gradually emerging with time, though as I stated previously, I would like to see more Pessac DNA come through. The palate is well balanced, although the oak is quite prominent at the moment and you can feel the wood tannins, especially toward the tobacco-tinged finish. Not bad, but it needs a couple of years to fully meld.
About the producer
Owned and managed by the Kressman family, Latour-Martillac is one of the region’s most recognisable estates – with the eponymous tower standing proudly at its entrance. Its 50 hectares of vines produce benchmark Pessac.