1948 Château Latour

Tasted 3 Times With Inconsistent Notes The 1948 boasts a forceful, exotic nose of mint, cassis, walnuts and leather that jumps from the glass. The wine exhibits impressive richness, density, and body, as well as a long, soft finish. Fully mature, it is capable of lasting another 15-25 years. Two other bottles revealed a more inky color and greater flavor depth and richness.

Tasted 3 Times With Inconsistent Notes The 1948 boasts a forceful, exotic nose of mint, cassis, walnuts and leather that jumps from the glass. The wine exhibits impressive richness, density, and body, as well as a long, soft finish. Fully mature, it is capable of lasting another 15-25 years. Two other bottles revealed a more inky color and greater flavor depth and richness. Oct 1994, www.robertparker.com

The 1948 Latour was the first vintage to be poured, and this time, I had a proper glass. (Unfortunately, when I had drunk this 12 months earlier, the waiter accidentally omitted my glass while I was ensconced in conversation and only realized once the entire bottle had been poured.) Not this time. The 1948 is rather introverted at first, though it improves with aeration, a mixture of red and black fruit, leather, black truffle and cedar. It is not a powerful bouquet, yet there is presence. The palate is marked by relatively lighter tannins for this particular First Growth, black fruit laced with pencil shavings and undergrowth. Maybe there is just a little dilution on the finish, but you cannot deny its refinement and statesmanlike personality. Bottles should be opened unless you are lucky enough to find larger formats.