The 1959 Latour is a magical bottle today and one that nips at the heels of the legendary 1961, even if it doesn't quite hit the same level of quality. Still a youthfully saturated garnet-black in hue, it unwinds in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, English walnuts, cigar box and vanilla pod, along with a discreet touch of volatile acidity, which lends aromatic lift more than it detracts (and which actually reminded me of 1960s Unico). Full-bodied, rich and muscular, with huge levels of concentration, ripe tannins and a broad, textural profile, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. Given its structure and substance, this could easily prove to be a 100-year wine, and it will certainly be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage.

Dark garnet with an amber edge, the 1959 Latour reveals a touch of volatile acidity in the nose, along with aromas of melted caramel, tobacco, and jammy red and black fruits. As the wine sat in the glass, notes of minerals, coffee, spice, and underbrush emerged. There is still copious tannin in the finish (I am not sure it will ever be fully resolved), but this sumptuous, complex, fragrant, super-rich Latour cuts a broad swath across the palate. Fully mature, it is best consumed over the next decade.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #129, Jun 2000)

Tasted at “The Sampler” icon tasting in London. From a half-bottle – this is actually consistent with previous bottles I have tasted. It has a brilliantly defined bouquet with blackberry, cedar, a touch of bilberry and smoke. It is still so precocious after all these years. The palate is perhaps not quite as bright as others but still armed with potent mulberry tinged black fruit, cedar and sage. This is a very fine Pauillac but not the best bottle I have tasted of this legend. Tasted December 2012.

– eRobertParker.com, Mar 2013

Marie-Jeanne (2.25 litres). A bit volatile but charming. Solid and dense. Very very dense. Sturdy. Fresh and solid. (JR)