Beschreibung:

Château Latour--Vintage 1961
1 impériale per lot
Château Latour--Vintage 1961 Pauillac, 1er cru classé. Château-bottled Vintage note: Vintage of the Century (again!) 1961 was a year of extremes. It was also, with 1945, one of the shortest vintages of the century, yield reduced by hail, accounting for its concentration. Although it was warm and fairly dry, the best of the wines from 1961 lack the hard tannins of the 1945. The best examples are incredibly youthful. 1961 began with a rainy winter and an early spring. The initial growth was disrupted by a hard frost in May. The summer that followed was dry but cool for the most part - the heat really came at the end of August into September, finally resulting in really concentrated wines because of the low yield, great ripeness, and firm acidity levels because of the cool nights. "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. 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. It seems to get richer over the last 15 years, 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!" 100 points, Robert Parker June 2000 "Toujours frappé par la grande jeunesse de ce millésime. Bouteille un peu plus discrète aromatiquement que d'habitude, mais bouche 'sereine', presque "zen", concentrée, dense et longue." At the estate, Frédéric Engerer, March 2011 "A perfect deep red with obvious maturity. Intense, ripe black fruit aromas, supple leather plus notes of mint and menthol. Crisp yet silky tannins combining with extraordinary persistence and balance. Almost youthful. Impressive." At the estate, David Elswood, March 2011 "One expects that a bottle of 1961 Latour direct from the cellars of the château will be spectacular. This particular bottle, however, surpassed all expectation. It was a transcendent bottle of perfect wine, with a sweet, youthful fruit that showed great complexity of floral and spice aromas with a just a faint hint of mint at the end. There is also a suggestion of earthier aromas, a bit of a smoky, savory element, but it is chiefly the youth and robustly forward fruit character that impresses at first blush. On the palate the wine is still youthfully full bodied and well-structured, with plenty of grip and power, although the texture is fine and lovely. Indelibly memorable." At the estate, Charles Curtis M.W., March 2011 1 impériale per lot