Showing posts with label #latour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #latour. Show all posts

Friday, May 9, 2025

LeDomduVin: Portrait, LeDomduVin & Château Latour Pauillac 2015




Ledomduvin & Château Latour 2015


In my previous post (a few days ago), "Portrait," I mentioned that the pictures were taken on my last day before turning 50. 

Well, here we go again. Tonight is my last day before turning 52 tomorrow. 

A colleague took this picture earlier tonight, just before serving this beautiful wine, Chateau Latour 2015, for a private dinner. The wine was succulent! 😋👍🍷🍷🍷





Although this particular decanter may convey a certain elegance, one cannot help but notice and even laugh at its phallic form. That was the only style available in the restaurant. It is a question of taste, and I'm not judging anything or anyone, but I must admit that the vision of such a decanter always sketches a smile on my face.  😉😁👍🍷 





Château Latour Pauillac 2015


Château Latour needs no introduction. It is one of the most outstanding wines from Pauillac and Bordeaux and is among the largest, with 96.5 hectares of vines. This includes "The Enclos," the 47-hectare walled vineyard surrounding the Chateau that was converted entirely to organic farming with the 2015 vintage, and roughly 50 hectares outside of "The Enclos."     

What makes it great is that the Grand Vin of Chateau Latour is made exclusively from “Vieilles Vignes, "which are, on average, 60 years old, from the best parcels of "The Enclos."  

The Enclos's core terroir consistently delivers the depth, elegance, and concentration expected from the Grand Vin. Here, the Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 90% of the blend, reaches its best expression in terms of color, richness, and freshness. Chateau Latour's Grand Vin requires time and rewards those who have the patience to wait a decade or more to fully enjoy its potential.  

In exceptional vintages, the strength and vibrancy of Château Latour's wines allow them to develop effortlessly over several decades. The bouquet and impressions during tasting gradually evolve, becoming more complex until they peak, after which the tannins soften and the wine slowly tames down. Beyond the enjoyment of drinking them, these wines evoke powerful emotions and create unforgettable moments. This perfectly describes my experience with this magnificent 2015 vintage. 

Bought a few years ago from sound provenance and kept at an ideal temperature and humidity level in a Eurocave, the bottle was pristine, and the cork was in perfect condition. Due to its youth and as it was a bit shy on the nose, I decanted it (roughly 45 minutes before serving). I retasted it before serving it, and it had opened up nicely. 

Spawned from an exceptional vintage, Chateau Latour 2015 is a blend of roughly 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.6% Merlot, and less than 1% Petit Verdot. In the glass, the wine displayed a dark garnet color. On the nose, after 45 minutes decanting, its shyness at opening gave way to warmer and complex aromas of dark fruits like blackberries and plums mingling with mocha, graphite, and floral notes. The palate showed richness, complexity, and power in a soft velvet glove way, with excellent balance and freshness. Its concentration expanded nicely from the attack to the lingering finish, coating the mouth with ripe dark fruits, woody, earthy, spicy notes, and mineral, umami, and salty nuances. The tannins were present yet perfectly integrated. What a magnificent wine! 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

Full post with tasting notes on my blog at www.ledomduvin.com (link in bio) 

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #portrait #wine #vin #vino #wein #chateaulatour #pauillac #bordeaux #tastingnotes #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #lovewine


Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Monday, September 23, 2024

Ledomduvin: Mise en place - Opened wines - Part 1




Mise en place - Opened wines - Part 1


Following my previous post on "mise en place," here are some of the bottles we opened last weekend. This is part 1, and part 2 will be in a second post.




Champagne Krug "Clos du Mesnil" Blanc de Blancs Brut 2006


Rich, layered, complex, refined, fine bubbles, zesty, with fresh, delicate aromas of apple, pear, and stone fruits mingling with lightly toasted brioche, mineral, and floral notes. Stunning!






Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru Burgundy 2019


This is a fantastic wine, with a delicate complexion and incredible minerality conveying a sense of purity. Displaying gorgeous Japanese pear and white stone fruit aromas and flavors, the palate is soft, gentle, rich, waxy, focused, incredibly balanced, and expands nicely from the attack to the long-lasting finish, with that glycerine sensation that makes you salivate and want more. Some remained in the bottle, and I tasted it two days later; it was still delightful. I loved it!






DRC (Domaine de la Romanee Conti) Richebourg Grand Cru Burgundy 1993


One of the guests brought this bottle. It was okay, not great. As I often say, even DRC or Petrus makes lesser wines in lesser vintages. When the wine is bad, the wine is bad, no matter the name on the label.

This was a perfect example. It was not surprising either, as 1993 in Burgundy is a controversial vintage (opinions are divided), but nonetheless relatively poor due to rain during the growing and harvest seasons, resulting in high acidity, tight tannins, and a lack of fruit in many wines. The wine was relatively thin and tight, shy about aromas and flavors, and lacking substance and depth. The guest suggested decanting it, yet even after 1 hour, despite somewhat of a timid opening, it was not necessarily better. Disappointing, in my opinion, and definitely not worth the demanded price.





Chateau Latour Premier Grand Cru Classe Pauillac Bordeaux 2005


This was another stunning wine. It even showed better than the previous bottle I opened the week before. Racy, sophisticated, rich, and layered, yet in an elegant way. Not the powerhouse I thought it would be for such a solar vintage: this wine is all about finesse and refinement. Loved It!

Cheers!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #krug #champagne @pierreyvescolinmorey #pierreyvescolinmorey @_domainedelaromaneeconti #drc #domainedelaromaneeconti #burgundy #chateaulatour #latour #bordeaux #tasting #tastingnotes #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #wineyearly




Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2024, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Thursday, September 5, 2024

LeDomduVin: Latour 2005 vs Latour 2009




Latour 2005 vs Latour 2009


It is not every day that I open two bottles of the same Chateau in different vintages, especially one of my favorite First Growths.

Comparing two vintages of Chateau Latour, such as 2005 and 2009, is tricky as both have similarities. Yet, they are distinctively and intrinsically different.

Both were solar vintages with high temperatures and dry, hot growing seasons, which produced ripe, rich, layered, and concentrated wines.

These conditions could have resulted in high alcohol, unbalanced, or cooked wines.

Fortunately, some cool nights and enough rain at the right time provided juiciness, balance, and freshness while preventing drought and overripeness, resulting in wines combining complexity and depth with great aging potential.

Ultimately, 2005 was an excellent vintage that produced some fantastic wines, while 2009 is considered a legendary vintage that produced stellar wines.

This might explain the 200+ Euro price difference between the two. On Wine Searcher, Chateau Latour 2005 starts at around 680 Euros, and Latour 2009 starts at around 870 Euros, and it shows in the glass.

Although both displayed a dark color, undoubtedly due to their age difference, the aspect of the 2005 seemed lighter, more medium-deep ruby color with slightly more advanced nuances, while the 2009 was of a darker ruby red with some purple touch.

The difference between the two wines was quite significant on the nose. The 2005 was soft, gentle, discreet, and sophisticated. It displayed attractive aromas of red and dark berries, cassis, graphite, coffee, and licorice, with earthy, spicy, and floral hints. On the other hand, the 2009 was bold, powerful, and confident. It boasted dark berries, blackberries, and mocha aromas, with hints of toasted oak and chocolate.

These differences appeared even more evident on the palate. Although complex, balanced, sophisticated, and finely chiseled, the 2005 seemed lighter and dryer than the 2009, which was rich, opulent, juicy, and chewy. It had plenty of dark ripe fruits, excellent balance, and concentration, expanding nicely to the lingering finish.

I loved them both despite their differences, yet I found the 2009 more pleasurable to my palate. My advice: don’t open and drink them side by side, as it might alter your opinion about the 2005, which is also a superb wine yet slightly less expressive than its younger sibling.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin @chateau latour #chateaulatour #latour #latourpauillac #pauillac #bordeaux #redwine #grandcru #premiergrandcru #firstgrowth #tastingnotes #winecomparison #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #wineyearly



Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2024, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

LeDomduVin: Mise en place!



Mise en place!


When you're a Sommelier, having some classics from Bordeaux and Burgundy on hand in the cellar is essential. 😊👍🍷 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #chateaulatour #latourpauillac #latour @domainemongeard #mongeardmugneret @chateaumargaux #chateaumargaux #classics #miseenplace #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #wineyearly



Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2024, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

LeDomduVin: Chateau Latour Pauillac 2015




Château Latour Pauillac 2015


I recently opened a few bottles of this particular wine for 2 different dinners, and it showed wonderfully after about 2 hours of decanting. Still young, with some present yet integrated tannins that will need a bit more time to mellow down. Beyond its attractive aromas of red and dark cherries and berries mixed with notes of licorice, coffee, and leather mingling with earthy and oaky nuances, it boasts an impressive complexity, structure, and texture. The palate is rich, opulent, and layered, expanding nicely till the lingering finish. Although really approachable now, it deserves a few more years of cellaring to fully express itself and its full potential. Looooooooooove it.

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein @_chateaulatour #chateaulatour #latour #pauillac #bordeaux  #greatwine #redwine #tasting #tastingnotes #sommelier #sommlife #sommelierlife #ilovemyjob #wineyearly #lovewine


Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2024, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

LeDomduVin: Visiting Old and Rare Ladies | (Part 2) | TLC as needed


Visiting Old and Rare Ladies | (Part 2) | TLC as needed


On my previous post (here), I was telling you that, 2-3 times a week, I'm visiting the Old and Rare Ladies of the Display Cellar of the French Restaurant "Le Pan Apicius" located in the Headquarters Building of the company I have been working for, for the past 5 years, (Goldin Group), to provide them with some TLC (Tenderness, Love and Care) as needed. 

As you know, storage conditions, climate and environment are crucial for these Ladies to age gracefully and the best way possible without getting too "old", "decrepit" and/or "unbearable" to quickly (Am I still talking about bottles of wine? 😉). 

However, do not freak out Ladies, it is unavoidable, with age come skin creases and outfit crisis (i.e. understand damaged or deteriorating label), and I'm here for you to help and remedy to this undesirable situation (I think that I'm not going to make any friends amongst the women reading this post...)....

So here we are, a few weeks ago, we had a major issue with the cooling unit maintaining the temperature and humidity levels in the display cellar (which unfortunately took a few days to be repaired) and I realised that the humidity level was going down around 50-55% instead of the usual and ideal 70-75% level.

You see the problem with old ladies is that once they lay down comfortably and adapted to their environment, better not move them to prevent from choking or brusk them, moreover they get very cranky and take days to settle down back in the right mood after being moved ...

As a consequence, and despite the use of additional water buckets placed in the cellar the duration of the repair, some of these old and rare Lady's labels started to dry up and get slightly detached.

It was a horrible sight for a Sommelier like me...  I couldn't watch my old Ladies friends dried up... 
I had to do something.. And so I did... I decided to dress them up with a plastic film to maintain the label in place and avoid further deterioration... a sort of a makeup to make them pretty and resplendent once again....   what will I not do for these Ladies.... ?!?  How could I resist facing these "Grand Dames" in great distress? 

Let's get dressed up Ladies.... especially you... yeah, you... the very old ones (...antic should I dare to say... historical might be better) from one of the most unique collections of Chateau d'Yquem outside the Chateau with vintages dating back to 1825... I really don't want to see you undressed... 



Latour 1945 detached Label  © LeDomduVin


Latour 1945 detached Label  © LeDomduVin


Latour 1945 bottle without the label © LeDomduVin


Latour 1945 detached label © LeDomduVin

Label Protection Operation Tools © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 detached label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 detached label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin


Latour 1945 slightly detached label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin


Mouton 1947 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin


Mouton 1949 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin


Mouton 1949 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin


Lafite 1945 slightly damaged and detached label © LeDomduVin


Lafite 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Lafite 1945 slightly damaged and detached label © LeDomduVin

Lafite 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

H Jayer 1996 Vosne-Romanée Cros- Parantoux label © LeDomduVin


Yquem 1856 slightly detached label © LeDomduVin


Yquem 1856 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin



Yquem 1857 slightly detached label © LeDomduVin



Yquem 1857 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Cheval Blanc 1949 slightly detached label © LeDomduVin



Cheval Blanc 1949 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Cheval Blanc 1949 damaged and slightly detached label © LeDomduVin



Cheval Blanc 1949 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Yquem 1925 slightly detached label © LeDomduVin



Yquem 1925 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Lafite 1961 damaged label © LeDomduVin

Lafite 1961 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Yquem 1891 slightly detached label © LeDomduVin


Yquem 1891 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin




Yquem 1825 © LeDomduVin


Yquem 1825 with plastic film covered label (just in case) © LeDomduVin

Beautiful, aren't they? Yes, I know, this Display Cellar is a Sommelier, or should I say a collector, dream come true. 

I feel very privileged and humbled to be able to hold and take care of these beauties, memories of the past who survived history and still live to this day... They need to be preserved and tend to until maybe one day someone decides to lay them forever in a museum or offer them a better end by savoring them religiously right after listening to their last whisper when releasing the cork.... and let them finally take their last breath...  (sigh)



NB: I hope you get the metaphors in my way of writing these posts... otherwise ask someone to explain you... it is second degree mixed French-American humor... but some of you might not get it at all.... (sigh) 

More post like this coming soon, so stay tuned. 

To be continued.....

Santé, 

LeDomduVin a.k.a. Dominique Noël