2019 Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac, France, 750mL, [97 points]

The 2019 Les Forts de Latour is a striking Pauillac, balancing muscular power with elegant finesse. It opens with an expressive bouquet of cedar, cassis, lavender, cigar ash, and crushed rocks, followed by supple notes of milk chocolate, violets, and citrus zest. The palate is medium to full-bodied, tightly woven with fine-grained, chalky tannins and a vibrant mineral core. Juicy red and black fruits interplay with savory herbs and a hint of mint on the long, structured finish. Bright, fresh, and chiselled, this wine captures the character of the vintage with precision and promises decades of graceful aging.