Given the success of the grand vin this year, it is no surprise that the second wine of Latour is also impressive (not forgetting that the rigorous selection process also extends to a third wine). An ex-château release took place in March 2016 (part of the property’s strategy since withdrawing from the en primeur system in 2012), and this has really come on in the last three years. On the nose, it is bright, focussed, and self-assured, with racy chocolate and blueberry aromas. On the palate, it has impeccable balance, fluidity and grip, all in harmony. It is long, too. A class act.