Château Latour-Martillac 2016

Château Latour-Martillac is a winery located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation in the Bordeaux region of France. The estate has a long history, dating back to the 12th century, when it was owned by the Benedictine monks. The current château was built in the 18th century and has been owned by the Kressmann family since 1930.

The vineyard of Château Latour-Martillac covers 42 hectares, with the majority planted with red grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The estate also produces a small amount of white wine from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

The wines of Château Latour-Martillac are known for their balance, elegance, and finesse. They are often described as being a "classic" expression of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, with a focus on terroir-driven flavors and aromas. The red wines are typically aged in oak barrels for 12-18 months, depending on the vintage, and can age for several decades.

Château Latour-Martillac has received numerous accolades and awards over the years, including being named a Grand Cru Classé de Graves in the official classification of Bordeaux wines in 1953. The estate has also been recognized for its commitment to sustainable viticulture and has been certified by several organizations, including Terra Vitis and HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale).

"A superb vintage all over Bordeaux, and absolutely one that you should be searching out with the Crus Classés de Graves. You can wait for this to soften for sure, because the tannins are pretty racy right now, squaring up to the blackcurrant and blackberry fruit rather than cradling it, but there is such a charm to its confidence that I am pretty tempted to say go for it now with a few hours in a carafe. Liqourice, cocoa beans, crème de cassis, espresso and a ton of brambled autumnal fruits. 40% new oak." - Jane Anson, (09/13/2021), Ratings: 95, Drink: 2022-2038

"The 2016 Latour Martillac is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with warm plums, kirsch and redcurrant jelly on the nose with touches of bay leaves, iron ore and black soil. Medium-bodied with a well-sustained mid-palate of muscular fruit, it has a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, (11/30/2018), Ratings: 93, Drink: 2020-2037

"The 2016 Latour-Martillac offers classic Pessac-Léognan scents on the nose: black fruit, black olive and a touch of sage, plus hints of blue fruit that emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and fine acidity. A little compact toward the finish, but with good persistence. My feeling is that this will close down quite soon after bottling, but there is a great wine here." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (01/24/2019), Ratings: 93

"The 2016 Latour-Martillac has an understated nose at first, but it unfurls and becomes quite a seductive Pessac-Léognan with ample blackberry and raspberry fruit, and a subtle hint of black olive. I admire the precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, supple tannin overlaid by blackberry and bilberry fruit, sea salt and black pepper. Showing excellent focus and abundant freshness on the finish, this is an assured and sophisticated Latour-Martillac that will give many years of pleasure." - Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, (04/28/2017), Ratings: 92-94, Drink: 2022-2042