Chateau Latour 1er cru classe, Pauillac

The formidable fortress depicted on the famed vanilla Latour label was built to withstand the Gironde pirate attacks of the 15th Century. And, truly, as well as the tower still stands, so does Latour and its consistent excellence – regardless of vintage.

Nominally Pauillac, this First Growth sits almost astride the border of St. Julien and its output – as one would expect – is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with 10 per cent awarded to both Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Any experience with Latour is to be savoured with patience – this notoriously slow-developing wine requires at least a decade or two’s development. But the reward for this patience is a fulsome melange of power, finesse, depth and tone.