Château Latour Martillac Pessac-Léognan 2018 - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

This cru classé is a model of family ownership, with all the Kressmann children showing an almost filial attachment to their estate and very sound management. The reds have gained in tannin finesse and textural elegance. The wines are classic, with the emphasis on fruit, tannin quality and freshness. Under the guidance of the very talented and rigorous Valérie Vialard, the whites are irreproachable, precise, aromatic and perfectly lively.

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A little shy in its presentation, this wine opens up with aeration to aromas of black and red fruits enhanced by spices. Supple on the attack, the palate is unctuous, round and fleshy, underpinned by melted tannins and prolonged by a pleasant chalky finish.

About the domain :

While many of the great names of the Bordeaux wine trade have chosen to establish themselves in the Médoc, the Kressmanns have opted for the Graves and this cru, acquired in 1930, which owes its name to a tower adorning its courtyard, a vestige of a château built in the 12th century by ancestors of Montesquieu. This beautiful 50-hectare estate is renowned for both its white and red wines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Latour Martillac emerges from the glass with bold notes of cooked blackberries, plum jam and redcurrant jelly, as well as suggestions of garrigue, pencil shavings and menthol with a touch of tree bark. Medium- to full-bodied, the palate has a solid framework of firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness to support the generous fruit, finishing long and earthy.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

This is a fine example of a family estate, still in the hands of the Kressmanns, a historic family of Bordeaux merchants. Today, Tristan and Loïc Kressmann are at the helm of this well-situated cru classé on the Martillac plateau. The different generations have respected the heritage handed down, while making progress in vineyard management and winemaking with their cellar master, Valérie Vialard. The château inaugurated a new vinification cellar for red wines with the 2019 vintage. Without yielding to the siren calls of passing fashions, the wines have retained their elegant, precise style, but are gaining in density. This convincing balance between tradition and modernity, together with the particularly distinguished character of recent vintages, leads us to award Latour-Martillac a second star.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Owned by the Kressmann family, this estate has produced a wine for laying down. Rich tannins are balanced by juicy blackberries and dense, concentrated tannins. The wine needs aging, so drink from 2026.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of blackcurrant, spiced cherry, charred wood and a hint of smoked meat. Medium- to full-bodied, with firm, fine tannins. Thin layers of black fruit and spice. Best from 2024.