After Latour's exquisite performance in 1990, the 1991 is somewhat of a let-down. Nevertheless, it is a candidate for the wine of the vintage because of its concentration and class. After a strict selection, only 11,500 cases were made. The wine offers a dense, dark ruby color, and a reticent but promising bouquet of black-cherries, cassis, minerals, roasted nuts, spices, and subtle herbs. Medium-bodied, with excellent richness, fine glycerin, and aggressive tannin, this ripe, muscular, beefy 1991 needs 5-6 years to shed its tannin; it should last for 15 or more.

Dark ruby color. Decadent aromas of meat, figs and ripe fruit. Full-bodied, with a very good, compacted, fruity structure and a long, long, ripe fruit and earth finish. This is a seriously good bottle. Great value. Love it.--Latour vertical. Best after 2005.