Deep black bowl extending to rim, nose intense new wood sawdust aromas not yet integrated but lovely ripe cassis and bramble fruit little smoke, bit disjointed but shows massive potential. Palate firm tannins, youthful and full not harsh or angular very elegant, sweet ripe black fruit grippy length great with solid rich food. Great wine but young.
Round ripe, open earthy and full meaty complex, cedar wood, damp earth aromas, touch of volatile acidity, soft palate and tannins, firm acidity – elegant, fruit confit and dried, at its peak not to age for much longer.
Earthy mineral aromas, little softening and development, touches of leather, dark fruits and damp earth, bloody meat, cedar and tobacco, fine long well balanced palate.
Nose open soft, great ripe fruit spicy and rich, oak shows through vanilla and cedar with a rich fruit cake character of mixed black fruits, toasty charred wood, lovely fresh acidity, firm but elegant tannins and long length.
Dark colour, great lustre, nose big and tight, spicy new wood, quite open, dark fruits, minerally and coffee/chocolate, dark shoe leather polish, clean crisp and well balanced palate, young; although approachable now, fine elegant and long. Very good.
Bright cherry red centre fading to a mahogany rim, wonderful lustre. Nose still ripe and sweet, gingerbread, pain d’epices, dried orange rind, strawberry and cranberry aromas, some spicy cedar wood aromas, palate round sweet and long, complex sous bois and mushrooms hints, soft tannins, fresh acidity, very long.
Very elegant and fine, still big and powerful for a bottle this old, complex and showing youth, menthol hints, soft fine balance, long, complex, truffle and cinder toffee. Still incredibly showing lots of red ripe fruits, cedar wood and elegant tannins.
Fine, open, light smoked meats and gingerbread on nose, full ripe sweet and still youthful, dried cherry, some minerally ironstone aromas, palate soft long and persistent, soft tannins and balanced acidity. (NB- first vintage after Latour went back to Stainless steel fermentation tanks).
Open ripe, earthy fine paprika and smoked chorizo aromas, some confit tomato, cedar wood and cigar smoke hints, palate solid with big tannins and quite grainy on finish. Still lots of tannin, bit hard. Youthful – magnum, bottle probably better now.
Open earthy, round leather and truffle aromas with soft red fruits, cherry and strawberry, sous bois and mushroom, damp earth, very good long complex, soft and elegant. Slightly disappointing length.
Ronan is a very valuable member of the Master Sommelier Organisation.
His knowledge and passion for wine is frequently passed on to candidates at all levels of our education programmes.
He is an accomplished lecturer, and has a way of putting his subject matter over to candidates in a manner which promotes the learning process. Candidates respond positively to his approach and up to date knowledge of the subject.
Ronan's skills also extend to his practical work in the restaurant where he demonstrates benchmark standards.
His ability to taste and analyse wine has been proved with his success in gaining the Master Sommelier Award.
Bryan Dawes, Education chair, Court of Master Sommeliers