1978 Latour
Camie Fons
One of the great wines of the vintage, the 1978 Latour has reached full maturity. While it does not possess the extraordinary concentration of the massive 1970, or the power of the 1975, the 1978 offers a stunningly fragrant nose of roasted herbs, sweet, jammy black fruits, nuts, and minerals. There is almost an iron taste, as if it were a vitamin supplement. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with fat, rich, concentrated flavors of black fruits, earth, and smoke. Although it has been delicious for some time, this wine reveals no signs of weakening. - Robert Parker
A sleek and racy wine.Ruby-amber color. Aromas of cedar, cigar box,tobacco, mint and mushrooms, with hints of redfruits, follow though to a medium body with finetannins and a long, silky finish. Excellent now,but a little more bottle age would only improve it. - Wine Spectator
Mid blackish ruby with a broad pale rim. Serious stuff on the nose! Wonderfully complex with mineral layers and some dried herbs. Still very vigorous. Beautiful balance and intensity. Tasted after two younger top Margauxs, this really shows the staying power of Pauillac in general and Latour in particular. Lightly gritty (I think I got the dregs) and very definitely dry. Still a little, but not excessive, tannin on the end. Long and sore throat-soothing. - Jancis Robinson
This was a great (perhaps one of the greatest) vintages of Latour. Spicy nose, very structured eucalyptus in the mouth with fruit and substance. Long finish with wonderful lingering aromatic flavours. It is difficult to tell when the wine will begin to decline. It has been ready to drink since the late '70s and remains highly concentrated and full of charm, with a colour that has not evolved much for the age of the wine.
This year was the product of some extremely difficult weather followed by very favourable conditions throughout the growing season and beyond the harvests. There were significant frosts on 1 and 2 May, and the vines, which at that point were three weeks ahead, were severely affected. After the war, the vineyard was nothing like what it is today: it had not been replanted, improved or fertilized and suffered from a lack of suitable treatments against various diseases. At that time, the average yield ranged from 15 to 20 hectolitres per hectare, and this was mainly from old vines that produced comparatively little. Despite a difficult vinification, the resulting 54 barrels of Latour were rich and concentrated.
Generally unfavourable weather throughout the growing period. Cold, wet periods alternated with dry spells, which were followed by more rain before some fine weather around September and during the harvests. Quality did nevertheless suffer from the capricious weather. The harvests began on 25 September.
Very good year both in terms of quantity and quality. But also a year in which diseases caused significant damage. In the end, very ripe grapes were obtained, with very high levels of sugar and low acidity, resulting in a delicate vinification.
Initially the wine was very robust with a strong colour. It has passed its peak but is surprisingly well balanced and full of life, with a complex nose of tobacco and liquorice and a very fresh finish.
Paradoxical vintage. Weather conditions in July and August were not good. There was generally not enough sunshine for the grapes. The vineyards suffered from serious attacks from grape worms. The harvests began on 27 September and yielded average volumes. However, the wine proved to be of good quality, due to the warm weather during the harvests.
While it does not have the silkiness of the 1945, it does, however, have an exceptional bouquet and an unusual intensity on the palate. This wine, at its peak, retained all of its class and elegance, and a gentle concentration.
This vintage was subjected to numerous challenges in terms of weather conditions. An exceptional drought paralysed the grapes' growth, drying up the lower leaves and resulting in a small harvest. In the vats, a concentrated wine was obtained with high levels of alcohol and a very intense flavour. Very strongly coloured wines after a difficult vinification.
We did not expect high quality from such an abundant harvest. We were wrong. We were able to make very good, supple, ripe wines. Today, this wine has lost much of its fruit and concentration but has maintained a surprisingly elegant balance that can still be enjoyed.
A poor vintage from a small harvest. There was an attack of flower abortion, a lack of sunshine during critical months and several diseases that were difficult to treat. Fortunately, in early October, there was some fine weather for the harvests, which helped to restore the balance.
The weather was very favourable and growth was excellent throughout the year. Without the heavy rains during the harvests, which diluted the grape juice and made the fermentations more normal, we could have produced wines that were too concentrated. The harvests began on 15 September. The wines already looked very promising when they were separated from the solid matter: rich, with a beautiful colour and plenty of body.
Normal budbreak, early flowering (20-30 May) in perfect conditions. The weather then became cold, wet and windy. Flowering continued until dangerously late in June. In some cases there was a significant flower abortion. Thundery showers in July. Beautiful weather from August to mid-September. The grapes regained strength and ripening proceeded normally. Exceptionally fine weather for the harvests during the first half of October. The harvest was better than expected and a pleasant surprise.
A moderate year in terms of climate and also volumes produced and final quality. Exceptionally, there was a frost on the morning of 23 September; the harvests began on 1 October. Small amounts of rot were present during the picking. The grape juice was not very promising. It produced wines with a thin texture, but which were generally consistent.
At its peak for several years, this wine has more than kept its promises since bottling. It has developed concentrated aromas of leather, liquorice, tobacco and coffee. In the mouth it is very structured, still robust and concentrated, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish.
June was damp and hot with frequent showers. However, the fine weather early in the month enabled the earliest flowers to complete their growing cycle without any problems. Average temperatures were above normal, and flowering progressed smoothly despite the rain. September was sunny and warm. The harvests began on 25 September. Very active fermentation. Very rich musts, of a quality comparable to 1949 and 52. When the wines were run-off, they were rich, generous and full-bodied with good aromas and superb colours.
A terrible year for the vineyards of Bordeaux. Disastrous frosts in February took a heavy toll on the vines. While Latour did not suffer too badly, the bad weather during the summer had a negative effect on growth and, ultimately, on quality. The weather in September was generally fine, but for the harvests, which began on 5 October, it was rainy and cold.
Inevitably, this vintage suffered the consequences of the frost in 1956 and the yield was reduced. Variable weather during growth with alternating periods of rain and cold, then dry and warm. Fortunately, there was good weather during the harvests.
High temperatures in late July and the first fortnight of August. Despite rain, temperatures were normal for the season. The two summer months were more favourable than in 1957 and markedly better than in 1956. The harvest began on 21 September in good weather conditions
This wine has a beautiful colour and expresses the roasted flavours of the 1949, combined with the fullness and smoothness of the 1953. Very rich, complex nose overlaid with ripe fruit, cedar and dark mint chocolate. On the palate it is ripe and full-bodied yet also very concentrated and structured. A great wine that still has ageing potential.
A warm, wet spring. Severe frost on 22 April. Flowering continued from 25 May to 20 June. Very good weather in July and August, although a little too dry. The bunches suffered and did not develop properly. September was warm and rather dry. The harvests began on 21 September. The musts were rich, fleshy, strongly coloured and promising. Tumultuous fermentation due to the heat.
The first tastings revealed a wine with a fine colour and good vinosity and structure. Since then, this wine has confirmed our first impressions. Coming between the two exceptional years of 1959 and 1961 its full worth has not been recognized. Not very concentrated but harmonious.
After a very fine spring, the vines were well ahead in late June. Despite a poor summer (especially August and September), the harvests began on 12 September, 15 days earlier than usual. The well-ripened Merlot produced full-bodied, supple, fruity wines. We were able to harvest healthy grapes which gave clean, well-flavoured, rich, smooth, strongly coloured, fragrant musts.
Tastings after running-off suggested a great wine. It was clean-tasting, brightly coloured, very rich, very ripe, very roasted and very full-bodied. Such colours had not been seen for a long time. In the mouth it is phenomenal, full of fruit, structured, incredibly concentrated and perfectly balanced. The tannins are very present, but without being aggressive. Very long finish. It has barely reached its peak and will improve further.
Very wet winter, but February was very mild. The vines were a month ahead. Flowering began on 12 May, but the fine weather during the day alternated with cold nights. It was very cold and, on May 29, when the vines were in bloom, the vineyard was hit by frost. The flowers were completely frozen with the result that three-quarters of the harvest was lost. The month of July and the first three weeks of August were generally not very good: overcast, no rain and temperatures below normal. There was then a period of continuous fine weather from 24 August to 28 September, and it was almost as dry as in 1949. The harvests took place between 19 and 28 September, with a low yield.
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