Winery	Chateau Latour Haut-Brion
Region	Pessac Leognan, France
Vintage	1997
Type	Red
Grape Varietals	Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Retail Price	$99
Rating	7/10

My first french wine ventures - Chateau Latour Haut-Brion, 1997. Not one that is of an exceptional vintage, though it sure had burnt a subtantial hole in my pocketway back in 2000 when I was merely an NS boy.. And that was my initial investment, a beginning of my ‘sinful’ indulgence.

Fast forward eight years. 2008, on a joyous occasion, Chateau Latour Haut Brion 1997 became the prime candidate for a hearty meal and wine. According to e-Robert Parker’s chart, the wine is rated as old and is recommended for drinking soon. So I thought I had better get the best out of it soon.

To the best of my knowledge, Chateau Latour Haut-Brion has the characteristic of being a bold and masculine wine. Some cellaring is usually recommended as it was particularly tannic with strong aroma of charred oak on the front.  Eight years seem to have nicely tapered off some over-zealousness within. Some toasty oak was still prominently, reminiscent of smoke bacon and salmon we find in the meat section. Some tingle of herbs and cedar aroma unfolds yet nicely blend with the dense currant and ripe fruits to give a satisfying finishing. Although the years of maturing have given the wine a light yellowish-purplish hue, there was still spiciness detected possibly indicates that more cellaring is possible. However my guests seem to enjoy the wine very much and did not complain much about the spiciness; maybe I was too sensitive having had prior tasting notes about this wine.

Chateau Latour Haut-Brion 1997 complement nicely with the spread of roast Chicken with pine nut stuffing, grilled Wagyu Beef and Ratatouille ironically thanks to the fact that the spicy and masculinity wine had worked nicely with all the heavy dishes.

...So, there goes my $99. Initial afterthought: I would hate to open a wine that I've kept for 8 years. And for $99 plus eight years, I could probably enjoy more and better new world wines with lesser opportunity cost. 

Tasting Notes:  

• Chateau Latour Haut-Brion has the characteristic of being a bold and masculine wine. Some cellaring is usually recommended as it was particularly tannic with strong aroma of charred oak on the front.  Eight years seem to have nicely tapered off some over-zealousness within. Some toasty oak was still prominently, reminiscent of smoke bacon and salmon we find in the meat section. Some tingle of herbs and cedar aroma unfolds yet nicely blend with the dense currant and ripe fruits to give a satisfying finishing. Although the years of maturing have given the wine a light yellowish-purplish hue, there was still spiciness detected possibly indicates that more cellaring is possible.

Food Pairing:

• Roast Chicken, beef and heavy sauce type to dishes.  

Ready to Drink:

• Drink now. 

Available At:

• NA.