Tasted at the Latour-à-Pomerol vertical in London. The 1998 Latour-à-Pomerol was served alongside the 2000 and 2005 and to be honest, it does not quite stack up against those audacious wines. It has a decadent nose, sweet and rich with dried fig permeating the black cherries and bilberry scents, a touch more glycerine than those aforementioned younger vintages. There is an almost Napa-like personality to this Pomerol (something that several 1998s have exhibited). The palate is founded on a sweet core of red and black fruit: notes of crème de cassis and blueberry, silky smooth and sensual, but not quite delivering the delineation and precision on the finish, just a touch too lush. That said, it is still a very good Pomerol, but one that does not possess the sophistication of the top vintages. Tasted December 2015.

This might have a chance of hitting a magical outstanding score, as the wine still seems to be holding back much of its potential. A deep ruby/purple with a distinctive, very singular nose of wet steel, licorice, spice box, Provencal herbs, and roasted black fruits, as the wine hits the palate, there is generosity, ripeness, and purity, with sweet black fruits intermixed with cedar, earth, and some subtle herbs. Medium to full body and excellent richness are the hallmarks, but the wine’s tannic structure and level of stringency have kept my scores conservative. In any event, I am still waiting for this wine to emerge from behind its cloak of tannin, which is formidable. This could be a top effort for Latour a Pomerol if everything comes together. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. Last tasted, 1/02.