1938 Grand Vin de Château Latour
The 1938 Grand Vin de Château Latour is a true masterpiece of winemaking, offering a rare and precious tasting experience. This wine embodies the excellence of Pauillac Grand Crus, with its rich aromatics, elegant structure, and exceptional longevity. For wine enthusiasts and collectors, this vintage is a perfect example of the greatness and complexity that Bordeaux Grand Crus can achieve over time.
Wine Estate: Château Latour
Grapes: Cabernet Franc
Region: Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Appellation: Pauillac (Premier Grand Cru Classé)
Color: Red
Format: 0.75 L bottle
Alcohol Content: 13%
Description
The 1938 Grand Vin de Château Latour is an iconic wine from one of Bordeaux’s most famous estates. Classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification, Château Latour is renowned for its high-quality wines, and the 1938 vintage is a fascinating example of the longevity and elegance of Pauillac Grand Crus. This rare and precious vintage is the result of an exceptional year, perfectly capturing the distinctive character of Château Latour.
Blend
Although Cabernet Sauvignon traditionally dominates at Château Latour, the 1938 Grand Vin is primarily composed of Cabernet Franc, which adds spicy and floral notes to the blend, contributing to the wine’s complexity and elegance.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: The wine displays a deep garnet red color with brick-colored hues, reflecting its advanced age and evolution over the decades.
Nose: The nose is complex and mature, offering aromas of stewed red fruits, blackcurrant, black cherry, and blackberry, complemented by leather, tobacco, cedar, and forest floor notes. Hints of truffle, mushroom, and licorice emerge, revealing a deep maturity and perfectly integrated oak aging.
Palate: On the palate, the wine is elegant and well-structured, with soft, velvety tannins. Ripe dark fruit flavors are complemented by touches of chocolate, tobacco, cedar, and leather. The finish is long, refined, and well-balanced, with remarkable freshness for a wine of this age.
Aging Potential
The 1938 Grand Vin de Château Latour has already undergone several decades of aging and is currently at a stage of perfection. While it is in its prime, it still has the potential to reveal new nuances over the coming years. This wine is a testament to Château Latour’s ability to produce wines that age with grace and elegance.
Food Pairings
This legendary wine pairs beautifully with roasted or grilled red meats, such as ribeye steak, beef fillet, or lamb rack. It also complements saucy dishes, game, and aged cheeses like Comté or Roquefort. Mushroom-based dishes, truffles, or dark fruit sauces make particularly excellent pairings with this complex and refined wine.