Château Latour-Martillac Cru Classé de Graves 1996
12.5%
1.5L
Intensity
Lot presentation
Château Latour-Martillac Cru Classé de Graves 1996
The wine
On tasting, Château Latour Martillac's wines are harmonious, balanced and elegant. They are particularly seductive and well-rounded in great vintages.
About the Producer Château Latour-Martillac
Château Latour Martillac, (Latour has been written as a single word since 1990) gets its name from the twelfth century tower which stands at the entrance to the château. Its vineyard is located on a wonderful gravelly hilltop close to the village of Martillac. Bought by Alfred Kressmann in 1930, the estate is now managed by his descendants, Tristan and Loïc Kressmann. The original label, designed and drawn by Alfred Kressmann and his son Jean in 1934 still adorns the bottles of Château Latour Martillac, a wine which was served by the Wine and Spirit Benevolent Society in London at the banquet to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty George VI King of England in 1936. The vineyard, which has clay and gravel soil, produces red and white wines, and depending on the years whites account for 20 to 25% of the harvest. The grapes are picked with great care, the harvest is destemmed and then sorted by hand. The red wines, made by blending three grape varieties (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot) are matured for 15 to 18 months in oak barrels, of which a third are changed every year. Only the very best batches are selected for the grand vin, batches from younger vines are blended under the Lagrave Martillac name. The white wine grapes comprised of 55% Sémillon, 40% Sauvignon and 5% Muscadelle are picked with a succession of selections until they are ripe. The white wines are kept on their lees for over a year, then transferred to dark glass bottles which will ensure that they reach their full potential over the following decades.
Detailed characteristics
Quantity: 2 bottles
Levels: 1 Normal, 1 Low neckObservation: 2 Marginally damaged labelsOrigin: private individual
Type of cellar: underground, natural cellar
Recoverable VAT: no
Original wooden case / Original case: no
French customs seal: yes
Alcohol percentage: 12.5 %
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: Pessac-Léognan
Classification: Grave cru classé
Owner: Famille Kressmann
Vintage: 1996
Colour: red
Service temperature: 16°
Size (in ha): 35 hectares
Volume: 120000 bottles
Intensity: classic
Leading aroma: black fruit
Tasting occasion: food-friendly wine