2018 Chateau Latour Martillac Rouge Pessac-Leognan

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Wine Enthusiast - "Owned by the Kressmann family, this estate has released an ageworthy wine. Rich tannins are balanced by dark, juicy blackberry fruits and dense, concentrated tannins. The wine needs to age, so drink from 2026."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Latour Martillac bursts from the glass with bold cassis, chocolate-covered cherries and plum preserves scents followed up by smoked meats, violets and aniseed hints plus a waft of Provence herbs. Full-bodied, firm and fine-grained in the mouth, the palate is laden with juicy fruit and savory layers, finishing long and fragrant."


Decanter - "This has clear austerity on the attack, but the style of this wine is always to be a little more classic and understated than some others in the appellation, and it is heading towards an attractive, well-placed and well-judged wine. A ton of cassis and bilberry fruits, firm tannins and gentle uplift through the finish. Takes its time to unroll, but you get a lovely juicy finish, and raspberry leaf and peony aromatics. Harvested 17 September to 10 October, yielding 37hl/ha. 40% new oak."


James Suckling - "Aromas of blackcurrant, spiced cherry, charred wood and some smoked meat. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Tight layers of dark fruit and spice. Better from 2024."


Wine Spectator - "Sleek, with mesquite-infused cassis laced with an additional iron and sanguine thread. Finish picks up light savory and tobacco details. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot."


Jeb Dunnuck - "A plump, up-front, and nicely textured Pessac, the 2018 Château Latour-Martillac has lots of red and black fruits, classic Graves notes of damp earth, tobacco, and earth, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and wonderful purity and elegance on the palate. It's beautifully done, and while it drops off slightly on the finish, I love its tannins, the balance is spot on, and it's going to drink nicely for 15 years or more."


Vinous - "The 2018 Latour-Martillac is generous on the nose, offering plenty of black and red fruit, and touches of mint and menthol gradually emerging with time, though as I stated previously, I would like to see more Pessac DNA come through. The palate is well balanced, although the oak is quite prominent at the moment and you can feel the wood tannins, especially toward the tobacco-tinged finish. Not bad, but it needs a couple of years to fully meld."