Château Latour-Martillac Pessac-Léognan rouge 2020 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This classified growth is a model family estate, with all the Kressmann children displaying an almost filial attachment to their heritage and very sound management. The red wine has gained greatly in tannin finesse and texture elegance. The wines are classic, with an emphasis on fruit, tannin quality, and freshness. Under the leadership of the highly talented and rigorous Valérie Vialard, the white wines are flawless, precise, aromatic, and perfectly lively.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

While many of the big names in Bordeaux wine trading chose to set up in the Médoc, the Kressmanns opted for the Graves region and this vineyard, acquired in 1930, which owes its name to a tower adorning its courtyard, a remnant of a castle built in the 12th century by Montesquieu's ancestors. A beautiful 50-hectare estate renowned for both its white and red wines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the estate:

This is a fine example of a family estate, still owned by the Kressmanns, a historic family of Bordeaux wine merchants. Tristan and Loïc Kressmann are now at the helm of this classified growth, which enjoys an excellent location on the Martillac plateau. Each generation has respected the heritage handed down to them, while making progress in vineyard management and winemaking with their cellar master, Valérie Vialard. The château inaugurated a new winery for red wines with the 2019 vintage. Without succumbing to passing fads, the wines have retained their elegant and precise style, while gaining in density. This very convincing balance between tradition and modernity, as well as the particularly distinguished character of the latest vintages, lead us to award Latour-Martillac a second star.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

This Graves Grand Cru Classé has produced a wine of elegant richness. Still very young, its powerful tannins mask the black fruit and acidity. As the wine ages, the fruit and richness will reveal themselves. This wine deserves to be aged for many years. Drink from 2028 onwards.

Vinous

About wine:

Latour-Martillac 2020 presents an impressive and very engaging bouquet of blackberry, incense, graphite, and light hints of black olive. It is very harmonious and well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, very well balanced, quite salty with a balanced and fairly persistent finish. Typical of Pessac-Léognan, it has a bright future ahead of it. 2027-2055

James Suckling

About wine:

Immaculate black berries, chocolate, black licorice, walnut shell, and graphite. Some wet stones as well. Full-bodied and muscular, with a range of fleshy, grainy tannins that unfold harmoniously throughout the bold, black fruit-rich palate. There is so much going on here. Long, creamy, chocolatey finish. Try after 2026.

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

The nose is very pleasant, with notes of fresh, tangy red fruits and white pepper. The palate is juicy and structured, with lovely depth, freshness, and fullness without heaviness, and deliciously crisp tannins. 2023-2053

Terre de Vins

About wine:

Year after year, this château continues to improve, and 2020 is the first vintage to come out of the new vat room. While the nose of red berries (redcurrant) is charming, nuanced with hints of coffee beans, the palate is dynamic and clean. There is density and precision. The right volume is balanced by a thread of freshness that expresses itself on the finish with a touch of eucalyptus and a subtle, persistent hint of violet licorice. The elegance is still there, but now there is more personality, with the whole remaining very balanced. A better-constructed identity: the result of some fine work over the last few years.

Yves Beck

About wine:

Given the precision and definition displayed in this wine, one cannot help but notice this drive to get to the bottom of things and this ability to approach the 2020 vintage with obvious reflection. The result is an elegant, expressive and invigorating wine. With its supportive and relevant tannins, it highlights its excellent quality and ability to take center stage. What energy and flavor! 2026-2045

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

Perfectly ripe red and black fruits are omnipresent. What makes them even better are the additional nuances of orange peel, flowers, smoke, cocoa, and dried flowers. As pleasant as the nose is, so is the palate, with layers of silky, sensual, ripe, and fruit-filled flavors that seem to go on forever. This wine is absolutely delicious today, but if you are patient, it will only improve with age. This could be the best vintage Latour Martillac has ever produced! Drink between 2025 and 2048.