The dark ruby/garnet-colored 1975 Latour offers up a dry, mineral, tobacco, stony-scented nose with red and black currants competing with cedar, spice box, and balsam wood aromas. Hard and dense in the mouth, with tough, astringent tannin, a steely constitution, plenty of concentration, but an unflattering, backward style, this youthful 1975 is capable of lasting two more decades. Will it become increasingly attenuated and hard? Anticipated maturity: now-2020.

1975 was a great vintage apart from rains in mid-September and into the harvest period. Brick colored, the 1975 Latour has a mature nose of fallen leaves, tobacco, figs and oolong tea with a savory/meaty core and wafts of dried fruitcake. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, refreshing and softly textured with a long, mineral-laced finish.

Fascinating aromas of plums, minerals and mint, with a hint of peat. Medium- to full-bodied, with firm tannins and a long finish. Plenty of life left in it. This was rather controversial at the NY tasting, but I loved it.--Latour vertical. Drink now through 2015.