1998 Château Latour 'Grand Vin' 1998

This is the legendary Grand Vin from Château Latour, an illustrious First Growth (Premier Grand Cru Classé) from the historic Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux. Highly revered by private collectors worldwide for its monumental longevity and unwavering power, Latour’s core identity comes from the historic l'Enclos vineyard, a gravel-rich plot overlooking the Gironde estuary that naturally mitigates harsh weather and ensures exceptional fruit concentration.

The 1998 vintage is a highly successful and classically structured Right and Left Bank crossover year, where Latour's exceptional terroir produced a powerful, intellectual wine that has aged magnificently. Having spent nearly three decades developing beautifully in the bottle, it has shed its youthful austerity to reveal a complex, deeply savory bouquet of blackcurrants, dark plums, and cedar wood, seamlessly intertwined with signature notes of lead pencil shavings, cigar box, walnut paste, rich soil, and dried tobacco leaf. On the palate, it is full-bodied, remarkably dense, and precise, offering a velvety texture backed by fine-grained, fully resolved tannins and a vibrant line of acidity. The finish is expansively long, revealing a majestic, chalky mineral echo and subtle black tea nuances.

Highlights

• Vintage: 1998

• Region/Appellation: Pauillac, Left Bank, Bordeaux, France

• Producer: Château Latour

• Grape: Left Bank Bordeaux Blend (Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot)

• Style: Mature, Complex, and Deeply Structured First Growth Red Bordeaux

• Perfect for (food pairing): Premium cuts of dry-aged wagyu or ribeye steak, slow-braised beef cheeks in a rich red wine reduction, roasted rack of lamb with a rosemary and garlic crust, or wild game such as venison and pheasant. Its complex earth and cedar notes also make it a spectacular match for slow-roasted duck breast with a wild mushroom sauce, rich stews like boeuf bourguignon, or a well-curated plate of mature hard cheeses like aged Gouda and Comté.