Declared the wine of the vintage by Robert Parker, this legendary Latour is arguably the greatest of the 20th century vintages from the estate, even when compared to the hugely successful 1961, 1970 and 1982. 1966 was also one of the first Bordeaux vintages to combine a large harvest with high quality fruit.
I have personally found Latour to be among the most consistent of the Médoc’s first growths in terms of quality. Even in tough vintages it often outshines its neighbours, and I would always count it among a handful of the finest wines – not just in Bordeaux, but the whole world.
1966 is one of Michael Broadbent’s favourite vintages which he once referred to as a ‘long-distance runner‘, and the bottle I tried certainly lived up to this reputation.
At 45 years old it is showing the signs of age one would expect to encounter, yet there is clearly plenty of life left in it, and I’m sure that careful cellaring for a further five to ten years would still provide an unforgettable vinous experience. That said I’m not sure I could hold on that long if another bottle came my way!
It had a seductive nose of tobacco and eastern spice, with earthy notes, and hints of black tea, graphite, cedar, and a wonderfully pure expression of cassis. The palate was also top class, if not quite matching the wow factor of the wonderful nose; soft and velvety but with a fine acidic streak and well resolved tannins. The cassis blended seamlessly with enticing autumnal flavours, and that hint of black tea and spice. Delicate, rich and complex through to the finish. A real treat!
