Les Forts de Latour 2020 (6L)

96 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "Blue fruits and lead pencil come through here. Medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins and a crisp and citrusy finish. Nice zest. Floral and fruity. Al dente fruit. Needs four or five years to show its excellence. Try after 2028." 03/23

95 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2020 Les Forts de Latour is superb. Hints of gravel, dried herbs, game and licorice weave through a core of dark red/purplish fruit. Spice, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco follow. The purity of the flavors is just striking. Initially a touch reticent, the 2020 fleshes out beautifully with a bit of air. I would give this at least another year or two in bottle. A magnificent Forts de Latour." 01/26

95 Points, Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com: "Love the texture and depth on display from the first moment, a brilliant vintage to track down a bottle of Les Forts de Latour. This is packed with delicious and sappy blackberry, damson and cassis fruit, coupling concentration and elegance." 01/26

94 Points, William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2020 Les Forts de Latour is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26.5% Merlot and 3.5% Petit Verdot, incorporating a 64-hectoliter tank of Merlot that would normally have been included in the Grand Vin but which didn't fit with this year's blend. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of minty cassis, plums, licorice, pipe tobacco and vanilla pod, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety, with terrific depth at the core and a somewhat more textural, granular profile than the suave 2019." 04/23

96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "A blockbuster of a Les Forts, the 2020 Les Forts de Latour is based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26.5% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and aged 18 months in 60% new French oak. Its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by textbook Latour notes of currants, melted crayon, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, dense, and concentrated on the palate, it has a powerful, structured mouthfeel, remarkable purity, perfectly ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. It might be the finest Les Forts I've tasted. Hitting 13.1% alcohol, it's approachable today yet has another 30 years of longevity. Drink 2026-2056." 03/26

95 Points, Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 2020 Les Forts de Latour has a marvelous bouquet with fine delineation, lively and vibrant. The marine/crustacea aspect here is more prominent than its showing from barrel. Several swirls later and a lovely graphite element pins down its birthplace. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, ever so slightly candied in style, perhaps with a touch more red fruit than recent vintages, blood orange and pencil box. It fans out beautifully on the finish - a really quite gorgeous Les Forts de Latour in the making." 02/23