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Les Forts de Latour Pauillac 1996

$24999

Now hitting its stride: at thirty years old, the 1996 Les Forts de Latour — the second wine of Château Latour — is moving into the long plateau of mature Pauillac. 1996 was a classical, structured Left Bank vintage that favored Cabernet, and Forts de Latour shows that pedigree: once tightly wound and tannic, it has now mellowed into a firm but silken framework supporting cassis, cedar, tobacco, leather, and the umami complexity that comes only with age. A serious bottle for a serious occasion — decant and serve with rare beef.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

91 points

"Deep ruby-red. Vibrant cassis and licorice aromas. Firmer and fresher than the '97, with plenty of flesh and backbone. Dense, sweet and deep. Finishes long and subtle. A very strong vintage for this wine." —Stephen Tanzer

Robert Parker

88 points

"The 1996 Les Forts de Latour has a deep garnet color with just a thin rim of bricking on the rim. The bouquet is fully mature but demonstrated good fruit concentration after 20 years, mulberry, red plum, plenty of cloves and an almost garrigue-like scent. The palate does not quite have the charm of the nose, the tannins a little brusque and perhaps compared to this deuxième vin nowadays, without the finesse and then it just tapers towards a cedar-infused finish. Drink bottles now and over the next 10 years. Tasted July 2016." —Neal Martin

Jancis Robinson

17 points

"Mature rim. Real lift - and then quite delicate. A good package that is just becoming ready to drink. Far from a blockbuster but great balance and grace - not words I would necessarily expect to write about Les Forts. The most popular of this flight - quite rightly." —Jancis Robinson MW

Wine Spectator

92 points

"Amazing aromas of crushed berries and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with wonderfully velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This wine has wonderful texture and length."

More about Les Forts de Latour

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Other Regional Grapes , Red Blend

  • Vintage

    1996

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Traditional

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Roast prime rib; côte de boeuf; venison loin with juniper; truffled potato gratin; aged Stilton.

Tasting Profile

Full-bodied, mature, and structured. Cassis, cedar, tobacco, leather, and forest-floor complexity. Firm but resolved tannins, long savory finish.