Here the wood is almost invisible on the notably ripe and exotic orchard fruit nose with big, rich and borderline robust flavors that pack plenty of size and weight, even opulent with a distinctive pear-infused finish that coats the mouth with extract. This won't win any awards for elegance but it certainly makes a statement. Tasted: Jul 01, 2007 Score: 89 Drink: 2010+ Issue 27 Allen Meadows; Burghound

Louis-Fabrice Latour and winemaker Jean-Pierre Thomas (Jean-Pierre Jobard has now retired) told me that 2005 is a "great vintage in red and an excellent vintage in white. It's truly a classic vintage for the reds but, at least here at Maison Latour, not necessarily greater than 1990 or 1999. It's really an old style vintage that really seems to recall some of the legendary vintage from decades gone by. Unfortunately, we had at best average yields and in some cases well below average. We had no sorting losses to speak of though with good sugars and whenever you have no disease or rot pressures and chaptalization is zero or minimal, you generally make pretty good wines. Overall, it is a dream vintage and the wines should age beautifully." Allen Meadows, Burghound (January 2007).