Chateau Latour, one of Bordeaux’s oldest and most famous wine producers, is a First Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. It’s located in Pauillac near the border with Saint-Julien.

Vines have existed on the property since the 14th century, but Chateau Latour first began producing wines of great quality in the early eighteenth century. The estate gradually came to specialize in wine production, with 38 hectares of vines in 1759 and 47 hectares in 1794.

The vineyard currently has 78 hectares in production. The grapes from the 47 hectares surrounding the chateau, known as “L’Enclos”, are used in the production of the Grand Vin. The 30 hectares outside of the Enclos are used for the Forts de Latour and the Pauillac wines. The estate is planted with about 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot on gravelly hilltops and clay subsoil.

The wines of Chateau Latour need time to mature, generally at least ten or fifteen years, before they can be drunk. It is only then that the full complexity of the bouquet is expressed and the palate becomes sufficiently well integrated to be enjoyable and harmonious.

The 2000 Chateau Latour Bordeaux Blend from Pauillac, Bordeaux, is a distinguished red wine that has garnered high praise from numerous wine critics. This wine, produced by the esteemed Chateau Latour, is composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. It boasts a deep garnet color and has been noted for its complexity and potential for long-term aging.

James Suckling awarded this wine a perfect score of 100, highlighting its "fabulous aromas of black truffles, currants, raspberry, and dried flowers." He describes it as "mind-blowing on the palate" and an "emotional and soulful red" (jamessuckling.com, 4/28/2014). Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com concurs, also giving it a score of 100. He praises its nose, which features "cedar, a range of tobaccos, currants, smoke, spice, and blackberries," and notes its "concentration, length, purity, expansiveness, and richness" (TheWineCellarInsider.com, 7/4/2023).

Wine Spectator also lauds this vintage with a score of 99, describing the wine's fruit as "still very much in the primary phase, with a decidedly racy feel to the raspberry coulis, cassis, and blackberry reduction notes." The review emphasizes the wine's "superlong finish" and its "vivacity," suggesting it will be best enjoyed from 2020 through 2040 (Wine Spectator, 1/1/2016).

Wine Enthusiast gives the 2000 Chateau Latour a score of 98, noting its "elegance" and "huge, rich, and dense" character. The review mentions that the wine reveals new complexities at every stage of its life, currently dominated by "powerful tannins and huge, black, fruit" (Wine Enthusiast, 6/1/2003).

Decanter also scores it at 98, appreciating the "sheer power and muscle" of the wine. The review highlights its "truffle-laced dark chocolate, espresso, tar, and tight cassis flavors," attributing its excellence to the efforts of the team under director Frederic Engerer (Decanter, 7/8/2020).

Finally, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate offers a score of 97, noting the wine's mature notes of "fried exotic spices, hoisin, unsmoked cigars, and fruitcake" along with hints of "incense, potpourri, cast iron pan, and charcuterie." The review describes the wine as "medium-bodied, soft, plush, and savory" with a "long, mineral-tinged finish" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 3/1/2019).

Overall, the 2000 Chateau Latour is a highly acclaimed wine known for its complexity, elegance, and potential for long-term aging.