TN: 1966 Château Latour

[Baby Chickpea]

1966 Château Latour (Pauillac)
Two bottles. First VHS and very tannic with fruit ameliorating. Excellent but not what I remember how it was – bloody awesome when last tasted about 5 years ago. Following week opened another bottle, this time with fill level just into neck. Mid to light red with clear bricking. Astonishing clarity considering it is nearly 40 years of age. On opening, an explosion of aromas – sweet caramel, soy, cassis, cedar, dried herbs, eucalypt forest and a touch of mouse-like fur (starting to get this “mouse-y” aroma in alot of wines to varying degrees, or maybe because I recognise it clearly now I look for it?). Quite exceptional and a score in the very high nineties looks likely so far. Palate has astonishing length (over 40 seconds) and balance. Impeccable full spectrum flavour profile and lovely mouth-filling texture and near complete structural identity. You know you are in serious territory here. One negative (and found with both bottles to varying degrees): starting to dry out on finish ever so slightly. I so wanted to rate this higher but my faith in objectivity (stemming from my scientific background) disallowed any leniency. This is a great wine in stunning condition, but I fear it is on the downward slope (based on my two bottle sample, both very well cellared), albeit the decline will be very slow. After two hours, what was left in the glass began to erode. But this is nearly a 40-year-old wine! Who can expect any more? Just edges out the fantastic 1966 Penfolds Grange as global WOTV.
95/100

[Grant]

BC,

Can I borrow your wallet for day or so? Promise I won't buy any bottle under $300.


Good stuff, a great tasting.


GD

[mphatic]

I don't suppose you work for Macquarie, do you Danny??
Enviously enjoying the notes though.


Grant,
We should pool our money (with 10 other forumites ) and buy a bottle to try...

Either that, or become really good pals with Greg Norman or Tiger.

[Grant]

I've often thought about it (pooling) to get to drink a great, great wine. I remember when Len Evans and James Halliday got a dozen guys together and put in $4000 each to buy a double magnum of 1865 Lafite. Apparently it was exquisite. That sort of coin( for a couple of glasses) is way out of my league but I love the idea, an experience that you will remember forever.

Apparently Tiger is pretty tight with the money, you will have better luck with a guy like David Frost or Duffy Waldorf, both of whom love their vino.


Cheers

[Attila]

Mr.Chickpea, as I was born in 1966 I was able to celebrate my birthday with Leoville Las Cases, Mouton Rotschild of the same year in the past and alway wondered about the Latour.
Thank you for your update.
Cheers,
Attila

[Baby Chickpea]

Attila, in that case you must have some 66 Latour and Grange to celebrate your 40th birthday. Essential. Time to start saving ....

[Gary W]

66 Palmer is still a good wine too. Bottle last year was excellent but you would have to drink immediately - no decant - to catch the beautiful fragrance that the wine has on opening.

GW

[Baby Chickpea]

...oh, and 66 Haut Brion and LMHB aren't bad either.

[Rob]

Danny,

Thank you for the great note. I hope I have the patience to wait for the 2000 to mature and beyond. Pitty I discovered wine a bit too late , but I am catching up slowly..