Chateau La Tour St. Bonnet Cru Bourgeouis Medoc, 1990

 

The label on this wine clearly reads: "LATOUR ST. BONNET," but current vintages are now sold as Tour St. Bonnet, presumably because of proprietary issues. This is clearly a Bourgeois Cru from the Medoc rather than the well known first growth Chateau Latour. After 32 years, though, it has nothing to be ashamed of.

Remarkably dark and deep,, more like a young wine than a 32-year-old. No new oak; the wine was matured in large, neutral oak barrels. Assertive bouquet, fruity and floral. The wine is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Malbec cherry is quite prominent, though, in the smells and flavors. And the floral qualities are like those of Petit Verdot. Also some  Merlot currant and Cabernet cassis.  I have had this wine many times over the past two decades, and this bottle may well be the best of rhe lot. Not at all old.. I bought it becuse of its reputation as a good value Bourgeois Cru Bordeaux. And tonight it is living up to that reputation.