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    Lafite Rothschild

    About Château Lafite Rothschild

    Château Lafite-Rothschild is one of the most collectable wines in the world. Purchased in 1868 it has remained continuously in the Rothschild family. Less powerful than Latour and more classical than Mouton, the hallmarks of this wine of wines is a taut, lithe, willowy muscularity, enveloped by transcendent just-ripe black fruit with the perfect sweetness of blackcurrant, black cherry and plum. The scent of Lafite often beguiles its fortunate drinkers and the mythical, irresistible perfume of wonderful cedar, so fresh and elegant, must be experienced to be believed.

    Part of Lafite’s centuries-long success lies in its situation on some of the most gravel-dominant terroir in the Médoc. Up to ten metres deep with the stuff in some places, there are a few pockets of aeolian black sand and bedrock of limestone to complete the soils. Naturally conducive to the production of the most unbelievable Cabernet Sauvignon, the Grand Vin of Château Lafite Rothschild is frequently composed of up to 90% of the varietal. Couple this with the outstandingly talented team, headed for 40 years by the imperious Charles Chevallier (until 2018), and we have an estate whose strength lies in its being “a spectrum of flavours rather than a strong expression of any particular one” in the words of Chevallier’s replacement, Eric Kohler.

    The 1996 vintage onwards heralded some of the best wines in their history; 2003 and 2009 are notably outstanding. Elegant, fresh, with great fruit purity and remarkable ageing potential. The second wine, Carruades de Lafite, has also been intensely collected over the past decade.



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    Product Name Region Qty Score Price
    Bordeaux 1 84-86 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £2,917.27
    View

    Wine Advocate (84-86)

    Of the 64% of Lafite-Rothschild's harvest eliminated from the grand vin, only 40% made it into Lafite's second wine, Carruades de Lafite. It displays a character similar to Lafite's in its elegance and finesse, as well as fine ripeness, and tasty, curranty fruit wrapped in a medium-bodied, supple framework. A noteworthy introduction to Lafite-Rothschild's elegant style, it should drink well for 5-6 years.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 90 (VN (ST))
    Inc. VAT
    £4,144.87
    View

    Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)

    Good bright red-ruby. Dark aromas of cassis, blueberry, licorice, violet, mint and bitter chocolate, along with a faint note of candied berries. Tightly wound and quite juicy, with a strong mineral spine giving it a rather linear, lean impression. But classy and not at all hard, with lovely underlying fruit. Finishes firmly tannic and fresh. Not fat, but subtle and stylish.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 89 (VN (ST))
    Inc. VAT
    £3,523.27
    View

    Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (89)

    Bright medium ruby. Aromas of currant, blueberry, violet and licorice. Bright and focused, with modest flesh but lovely dark fruit flavors and grip. Lively acids extend the finish.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 87 (VN (ST))
    Inc. VAT
    £3,516.07
    View

    Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87)

    Dark ruby-red. Withdrawn aromas of currant and herbs. Dry and quite closed, with limited sweetness. Flavors of plum, leather and currant leaf show only modest ripeness. Firm acids give this wine a slight sour edge.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 91 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £3,758.40
    View

    Wine Advocate (91)

    There are 20,000 cases of the gorgeous 2003 Carruades de Lafite. Despite record heat in June, July and August, this wine only hit 12.8% alcohol, which seems modest compared to the higher alcohol levels of 2009 and 2010. A final blend of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a second wine with a Lafite Rothschild-like character, plenty of creme de cassis, cedarwood and graphite notes as well as a supple, lush texture. It has reached full maturity where it should remain for another 5-10 years.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 2 91 (WE)
    Inc. VAT
    £3,931.27
    View

    Wine Enthusiast (91)

    Though this is the second wine for Lafite-Rothschild, it is a major wine in its own right, with its dense, powered fruit and a structure obviously built to last. There is sweet, rich fruit and lively vibrant acidity. Imported by Domaines Barons de Rothschild and multiple U.S. importers.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 95 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £4,027.20
    View

    James Suckling (95)

    Currants and blackberries on the nose. Spicy and intense undertones. Full body, with juicy fruit and a soft, very silky texture and a long, long finish. Polished and very pretty. Best Carruades ever. Try in 2018.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 95 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £4,848.07
    View

    James Suckling (95)

    This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 87-89 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £4,734.07
    View

    Wine Advocate (87-89)

    The 2011 Carruades de Lafite is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Soft berry fruit, underbrush, fresh herb and bay leaf characteristics as well as soft tannins, a velvety texture, and a medium-bodied, slightly superficial, but satisfying style suggest this 2011 should be consumed over the next 10-15 years.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 92 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £4,734.07
    View

    James Suckling (92)

    Pretty density and flavor for Carruades in this less than perfect year. Shows tobacco, cream and chocolate aromas and flavors with black currants. Full to medium body, fresh finish. Drink now or hold.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 92-93 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £4,734.07
    View

    James Suckling (92-93)

    A silky and fine second wine of Lafite with blueberry, blackberry and flower aromas and flavors. Cedar and nuts too.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 97 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £2,610.46
    View

    James Suckling (97)

    Exquisitely fine tannins to the currant, lead-pencil and chocolate character. The palate is full, yet very refined and linear with a long, lingering finish. Such polish and tension. The tannins are intense, yet so fine, giving almost a powdery texture. So Lafite-like. Best Carruades ever? 56% cabernet sauvignon and 38% merlot, the rest cabernet franc. Drink after 2026.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 94-95 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £2,161.66
    View

    James Suckling (94-95)

    Soft and attractive character to this wine, showing a polished-tannin frame and a juicy center-palate. Medium body with medium, velvety tannins. Juicy. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 97 (WS)
    Inc. VAT
    £11,072.47
    View

    Wine Spectator (97)

    The great first-growth estate produced a wine with amazing length in this new vintage. Goes on and on, with mint, plum and cassis aromas and flavors and ultrafine tannins. A superb Bordeaux. Best after 1999. 25,000 cases made.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 84 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £12,144.58
    View

    Wine Advocate (84)

    Except for the 1966 and 1870 vintages of Lafite-Rothschild, these wines were poured on virgin territory on my palate. Isn't it ironic that the most disappointing wine (forgetting the spoiled 1875 Lafite-Rothschild, which had frightful levels of volatile acidity) was the youngest wine, the 1966 Lafite. With a light to medium ruby/garnet color, this wine exhibited a classy, weedy, herbal, Cabernet-dominated nose, soft, washed-out flavors, and little body and length. It is also beginning to dry out. I suppose if one were to taste a 30-year old Cabernet from Monterey County, California, it might reveal similar characteristics. The 1966 Lafite-Rothschild has consistently been a major disappointment from what is an irregular, but very good vintage.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 92 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £7,274.47
    View

    Wine Advocate (92)

    Why is it that Lafite-Rothschild is often so distressingly irregular from bottle to bottle? Much of the inconsistency during the sixties and mid-seventies can be explained by the relaxed bottling schedule, which saw the wines blended and bottled over an unusually long period (12+ months, compared to the estate's modern day bottling operation that never takes longer than 2-4 weeks). I have had some great bottles of the 1975 Lafite, most of them in the wine's first 15 years of life. Since then, I have seen wines that appeared cooked and stewed, with a Barolo tar-like aroma, as well as others with the classic Pauillac, lead-pencil, cedar, cassis, and tobacco aromatic dimension. The 1975 is a powerful Lafite, and troublesome bottles tend to reveal more tannin and funkiness than others, which have a roasted character, combined with a gravelly, mineral underpinning. As this wine has aged, it appears to be less of a sure bet. In most cases, it has been an outstanding wine, as the bottle tasted in December suggested. The aromatics indicate the wine is fully mature, but the tough tannin level clearly underscores the dark side of the 1975 vintage. This wine will undoubtedly last for another 30+ years, but I am not sure the fruit will hold. It is a perplexing wine that may still turn out to be an exceptional Lafite. In contrast, the 1976 has always been much more forward and consistent. However, I would still take the 1975 over the overrated, mediocre 1970, 1966, and 1961.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 92 (WS)
    Inc. VAT
    £7,212.58
    View

    Wine Spectator (92)

    Fruity, deep and firm, filled with plum and cherry, backed by youthful, stiff tannins. Needs time for complexity to develop. Try in 1995.--Lafite Rothschild vertical. -
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 98 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £55,558.87
    View

    Wine Advocate (98)

    The 1982 Lafite Rothschild is at the peak of its powers today, and the two bottles I drank this year were both exceptional. Wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet red berries and blackcurrants mingled with notions of cedar chest, cigar box, camphor and dried flowers, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, with an effortlessly elegant, harmonious profile and a long, fragrant finish. While this is far from being the most powerful Médoc of the vintage, it is among the most pleasurable.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 96 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £10,485.60
    View

    James Suckling (96)

    This is Lafite. Prune and spices, with a cedar and wet tobacco character on the nose. Even tea. Full and rich with a dark China tea and cedar character. Just a hint of chocolate. Opens in the glass like a genie. Amazing.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 84 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £7,274.47
    View

    Wine Advocate (84)

    The personality of Lafite comes through in the 1984 vintage. An elegant bouquet of herbaceous, cedary fruit is first class. New oak dominates the palate and some hard tannins exhibit a dryness at the finish. The 1984 is a light but well-balanced wine. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 1/88.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 2 100 (JA)
    Inc. VAT
    £13,164.07
    View

    Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

    The tannins remain evident, fully in tact, and overall this 1986 is young, profound, full of spiced herbs and freshly turned-over earth. It needs time in the bottle or carafe, because although there is more evident charm in the 1985 on first opening, this is the vintage of the pair that will be around for the longest. Dense black fruits abound, along with cigar box, black tea and slate. In its youth it was described as tannic, solid, almost austere, and it is astonishing how it has kept that character over the decades. There are still nuaces here that will be revealed over the decades to come, so be sure to give it time to unwind if you are opening any time over the next decade. 45hl/h yield. The famous Ricardo Bofill circular cellar was under construction at this point.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 98 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £9,337.27
    View

    James Suckling (98)

    I pulled this lone bottle out of my cellar at the last minute to remind some Italian vintners of the great quality of the 1995 Bordeaux vintage. They seem to be finally opening up! What a red with incredible depth and finesse. Cedar, cigar box and toabaaco character with currants and fresh tobacco undertones. It's full-bodied yet tight and dense. Precision. So refined and intense. Such freshness and beauty. Drink or hold.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 100 (JA)
    Inc. VAT
    £10,609.27
    View

    Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

    Tasted first at the château in July, then again at a Berry Bros supper in late November, and both time it effortlessly showcased why Lafite is one of the most sought-after estates in the world. Takes its time to open, even at 25 years old, but a bit of patience and you are rewarded with rosebud, tuffle, ash, pencil lead and crushed mint, all gently playing around the cassis, bilberry and blackberry fruits. There is huge concentration here, but everything is in balance, and you rejoice in the tertiary notes that give gentleness and juice to the overall feel. Charles Chevallier estate director at the time, Jacques Boissenot consultant. Harvest began September 24, 58hl/h yield. The first Lafite to be put in an anti-fraud engraved bottle.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 96 (VN (NM))
    Inc. VAT
    £8,042.40
    View

    Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

    The 1998 Lafite-Rothschild is served from double magnum directly from the château reserves, in fact with the man who made it sitting opposite me – Charles Chevalier. I must admit to being quite amazed how well this shows at 20-years of age, trouncing all the other First Growths except Haut-Brion. Lucid in colour, it has a vivid bouquet of pure blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and graphite, perhaps just a little uncharacteristically showy in style, but beautifully defined and intense. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe black fruit, perfectly pitched acidity and a silky smooth texture that renders this utterly seductive. It is almost too good for me to recommend cellaring longer. Whatever...it is a sublime Lafite-Rothschild that on this showing, may well challenge the supremacy of the 1996. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 100 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £15,114.07
    View

    James Suckling (100)

    The nose is fresh, bright, and dense. With aromas of violets, minerals, spices, cool stones, mint, dark fruits, and plum skins, this is beautiful. Very much still a baby right now, it needs much more time. This is a wine for the next generation. Finesse and elegance, truly a wine that makes you contemplate life. This is not about power, there is really nothing like it. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon. Do not even think about touching this for another ten years, 2020. 15+25+25+35. Find the wine
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 100 (WS)
    Inc. VAT
    £7,840.80
    View

    Wine Spectator (100)

    Fabulous for the vintage. Very grapey, with dark fruits and cured tobacco, leading to a cedar and berry undertone. Full-bodied, with round and rich fruit and big, velvety tannins, yet with all in reserve. A generous, seductive young wine that surprises you with its length. Score range: 95-100
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 95-100 (WS)
    Inc. VAT
    £7,143.67
    View

    Wine Spectator (95-100)

    Crushed berries and intensity to this, with grapey, toasted oak and cedar notes. Big and concentrated, with chewy and firm tannins. Very long. Very tight, though, and just beginning to show its true nature. Score range: 95-100
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 95-100 (WS)
    Inc. VAT
    £7,852.06
    View

    Wine Spectator (95-100)

    Crushed berries and intensity to this, with grapey, toasted oak and cedar notes. Big and concentrated, with chewy and firm tannins. Very long. Very tight, though, and just beginning to show its true nature. Score range: 95-100
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 100 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £10,891.27
    View

    Wine Advocate (100)

    The 2003 Lafite Rothschild comes as close to perfection as any of the great Lafites made over the past three decades (1982, 1986, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010). This sensational effort came in at 12.7% natural alcohol, it is made in the style of one of this estate’s great classics, the 1959. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color to the rim along with a luxurious bouquet of cedarwood, lead pencil shaving, white chocolate, cocoa and cassis. Fat, rich, opulent and full-bodied with low acidity and stunning seductiveness and complexity, this noble wine possesses a bountiful, generous, heady style. It is just coming into its plateau of maturity where it should hold for 20-25 years. This is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage – make no mistake about that.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 100 (DC)
    Inc. VAT
    £8,716.87
    View

    Decanter (100)

    This stunning wine is still extremely young, with an amazingly expressive nose with tea leaf hints. The aromatics keep building and building in the glass, and the elegance and persistency shine through. This was a drought year, unusual because it was almost perfect from beginning to end with not a drop of rain from May to October. Temperatures were not hot like 2003, of course, so the ripening was slow and complete, with relatively small yields and relatively high alcohol. This is full of energy and the flavours just keep on going, while those tannis have really started to embrace the fruit and showcase their elegance. It's concentrated and luscious yet focussed and beautifully balanced - the perfect example of how they don't need excess to deliver something truly extraordinary in Bordeaux.
    More Info
    Product Name Region Qty Score Price
    Bordeaux 1 84-86 (WA)
    In Bond
    £2,399.00
    View

    Wine Advocate (84-86)

    Of the 64% of Lafite-Rothschild's harvest eliminated from the grand vin, only 40% made it into Lafite's second wine, Carruades de Lafite. It displays a character similar to Lafite's in its elegance and finesse, as well as fine ripeness, and tasty, curranty fruit wrapped in a medium-bodied, supple framework. A noteworthy introduction to Lafite-Rothschild's elegant style, it should drink well for 5-6 years.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 90 (VN (ST))
    In Bond
    £3,422.00
    View

    Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)

    Good bright red-ruby. Dark aromas of cassis, blueberry, licorice, violet, mint and bitter chocolate, along with a faint note of candied berries. Tightly wound and quite juicy, with a strong mineral spine giving it a rather linear, lean impression. But classy and not at all hard, with lovely underlying fruit. Finishes firmly tannic and fresh. Not fat, but subtle and stylish.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 89 (VN (ST))
    In Bond
    £2,904.00
    View

    Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (89)

    Bright medium ruby. Aromas of currant, blueberry, violet and licorice. Bright and focused, with modest flesh but lovely dark fruit flavors and grip. Lively acids extend the finish.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 87 (VN (ST))
    In Bond
    £2,898.00
    View

    Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87)

    Dark ruby-red. Withdrawn aromas of currant and herbs. Dry and quite closed, with limited sweetness. Flavors of plum, leather and currant leaf show only modest ripeness. Firm acids give this wine a slight sour edge.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 91 (WA)
    Inc. VAT
    £3,758.40
    View

    Wine Advocate (91)

    There are 20,000 cases of the gorgeous 2003 Carruades de Lafite. Despite record heat in June, July and August, this wine only hit 12.8% alcohol, which seems modest compared to the higher alcohol levels of 2009 and 2010. A final blend of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a second wine with a Lafite Rothschild-like character, plenty of creme de cassis, cedarwood and graphite notes as well as a supple, lush texture. It has reached full maturity where it should remain for another 5-10 years.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 2 91 (WE)
    In Bond
    £3,244.00
    View

    Wine Enthusiast (91)

    Though this is the second wine for Lafite-Rothschild, it is a major wine in its own right, with its dense, powered fruit and a structure obviously built to last. There is sweet, rich fruit and lively vibrant acidity. Imported by Domaines Barons de Rothschild and multiple U.S. importers.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 95 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £4,027.20
    View

    James Suckling (95)

    Currants and blackberries on the nose. Spicy and intense undertones. Full body, with juicy fruit and a soft, very silky texture and a long, long finish. Polished and very pretty. Best Carruades ever. Try in 2018.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 95 (JS)
    In Bond
    £4,008.00
    View

    James Suckling (95)

    This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 87-89 (WA)
    In Bond
    £3,913.00
    View

    Wine Advocate (87-89)

    The 2011 Carruades de Lafite is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Soft berry fruit, underbrush, fresh herb and bay leaf characteristics as well as soft tannins, a velvety texture, and a medium-bodied, slightly superficial, but satisfying style suggest this 2011 should be consumed over the next 10-15 years.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 92 (JS)
    In Bond
    £3,913.00
    View

    James Suckling (92)

    Pretty density and flavor for Carruades in this less than perfect year. Shows tobacco, cream and chocolate aromas and flavors with black currants. Full to medium body, fresh finish. Drink now or hold.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 92-93 (JS)
    In Bond
    £3,913.00
    View

    James Suckling (92-93)

    A silky and fine second wine of Lafite with blueberry, blackberry and flower aromas and flavors. Cedar and nuts too.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 97 (JS)
    In Bond
    £2,154.00
    View

    James Suckling (97)

    Exquisitely fine tannins to the currant, lead-pencil and chocolate character. The palate is full, yet very refined and linear with a long, lingering finish. Such polish and tension. The tannins are intense, yet so fine, giving almost a powdery texture. So Lafite-like. Best Carruades ever? 56% cabernet sauvignon and 38% merlot, the rest cabernet franc. Drink after 2026.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 94-95 (JS)
    In Bond
    £1,780.00
    View

    James Suckling (94-95)

    Soft and attractive character to this wine, showing a polished-tannin frame and a juicy center-palate. Medium body with medium, velvety tannins. Juicy. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 97 (WS)
    In Bond
    £9,195.00
    View

    Wine Spectator (97)

    The great first-growth estate produced a wine with amazing length in this new vintage. Goes on and on, with mint, plum and cassis aromas and flavors and ultrafine tannins. A superb Bordeaux. Best after 1999. 25,000 cases made.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 84 (WA)
    In Bond
    £10,082.00
    View

    Wine Advocate (84)

    Except for the 1966 and 1870 vintages of Lafite-Rothschild, these wines were poured on virgin territory on my palate. Isn't it ironic that the most disappointing wine (forgetting the spoiled 1875 Lafite-Rothschild, which had frightful levels of volatile acidity) was the youngest wine, the 1966 Lafite. With a light to medium ruby/garnet color, this wine exhibited a classy, weedy, herbal, Cabernet-dominated nose, soft, washed-out flavors, and little body and length. It is also beginning to dry out. I suppose if one were to taste a 30-year old Cabernet from Monterey County, California, it might reveal similar characteristics. The 1966 Lafite-Rothschild has consistently been a major disappointment from what is an irregular, but very good vintage.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 92 (WA)
    In Bond
    £6,030.00
    View

    Wine Advocate (92)

    Why is it that Lafite-Rothschild is often so distressingly irregular from bottle to bottle? Much of the inconsistency during the sixties and mid-seventies can be explained by the relaxed bottling schedule, which saw the wines blended and bottled over an unusually long period (12+ months, compared to the estate's modern day bottling operation that never takes longer than 2-4 weeks). I have had some great bottles of the 1975 Lafite, most of them in the wine's first 15 years of life. Since then, I have seen wines that appeared cooked and stewed, with a Barolo tar-like aroma, as well as others with the classic Pauillac, lead-pencil, cedar, cassis, and tobacco aromatic dimension. The 1975 is a powerful Lafite, and troublesome bottles tend to reveal more tannin and funkiness than others, which have a roasted character, combined with a gravelly, mineral underpinning. As this wine has aged, it appears to be less of a sure bet. In most cases, it has been an outstanding wine, as the bottle tasted in December suggested. The aromatics indicate the wine is fully mature, but the tough tannin level clearly underscores the dark side of the 1975 vintage. This wine will undoubtedly last for another 30+ years, but I am not sure the fruit will hold. It is a perplexing wine that may still turn out to be an exceptional Lafite. In contrast, the 1976 has always been much more forward and consistent. However, I would still take the 1975 over the overrated, mediocre 1970, 1966, and 1961.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 92 (WS)
    In Bond
    £5,972.00
    View

    Wine Spectator (92)

    Fruity, deep and firm, filled with plum and cherry, backed by youthful, stiff tannins. Needs time for complexity to develop. Try in 1995.--Lafite Rothschild vertical. -
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 98 (WA)
    In Bond
    £46,267.00
    View

    Wine Advocate (98)

    The 1982 Lafite Rothschild is at the peak of its powers today, and the two bottles I drank this year were both exceptional. Wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet red berries and blackcurrants mingled with notions of cedar chest, cigar box, camphor and dried flowers, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, with an effortlessly elegant, harmonious profile and a long, fragrant finish. While this is far from being the most powerful Médoc of the vintage, it is among the most pleasurable.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 96 (JS)
    Inc. VAT
    £10,485.60
    View

    James Suckling (96)

    This is Lafite. Prune and spices, with a cedar and wet tobacco character on the nose. Even tea. Full and rich with a dark China tea and cedar character. Just a hint of chocolate. Opens in the glass like a genie. Amazing.
    More Info
    Bordeaux 1 84 (WA)
    In Bond
    £6,030.00
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    Wine Advocate (84)

    The personality of Lafite comes through in the 1984 vintage. An elegant bouquet of herbaceous, cedary fruit is first class. New oak dominates the palate and some hard tannins exhibit a dryness at the finish. The 1984 is a light but well-balanced wine. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 1/88.
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    Bordeaux 2 100 (JA)
    In Bond
    £10,938.00
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    Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

    The tannins remain evident, fully in tact, and overall this 1986 is young, profound, full of spiced herbs and freshly turned-over earth. It needs time in the bottle or carafe, because although there is more evident charm in the 1985 on first opening, this is the vintage of the pair that will be around for the longest. Dense black fruits abound, along with cigar box, black tea and slate. In its youth it was described as tannic, solid, almost austere, and it is astonishing how it has kept that character over the decades. There are still nuaces here that will be revealed over the decades to come, so be sure to give it time to unwind if you are opening any time over the next decade. 45hl/h yield. The famous Ricardo Bofill circular cellar was under construction at this point.
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    Bordeaux 1 98 (JS)
    In Bond
    £7,749.00
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    James Suckling (98)

    I pulled this lone bottle out of my cellar at the last minute to remind some Italian vintners of the great quality of the 1995 Bordeaux vintage. They seem to be finally opening up! What a red with incredible depth and finesse. Cedar, cigar box and toabaaco character with currants and fresh tobacco undertones. It's full-bodied yet tight and dense. Precision. So refined and intense. Such freshness and beauty. Drink or hold.
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    Bordeaux 1 100 (JA)
    In Bond
    £8,809.00
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    Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

    Tasted first at the château in July, then again at a Berry Bros supper in late November, and both time it effortlessly showcased why Lafite is one of the most sought-after estates in the world. Takes its time to open, even at 25 years old, but a bit of patience and you are rewarded with rosebud, tuffle, ash, pencil lead and crushed mint, all gently playing around the cassis, bilberry and blackberry fruits. There is huge concentration here, but everything is in balance, and you rejoice in the tertiary notes that give gentleness and juice to the overall feel. Charles Chevallier estate director at the time, Jacques Boissenot consultant. Harvest began September 24, 58hl/h yield. The first Lafite to be put in an anti-fraud engraved bottle.
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    Bordeaux 1 96 (VN (NM))
    Inc. VAT
    £8,042.40
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    Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

    The 1998 Lafite-Rothschild is served from double magnum directly from the château reserves, in fact with the man who made it sitting opposite me – Charles Chevalier. I must admit to being quite amazed how well this shows at 20-years of age, trouncing all the other First Growths except Haut-Brion. Lucid in colour, it has a vivid bouquet of pure blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and graphite, perhaps just a little uncharacteristically showy in style, but beautifully defined and intense. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe black fruit, perfectly pitched acidity and a silky smooth texture that renders this utterly seductive. It is almost too good for me to recommend cellaring longer. Whatever...it is a sublime Lafite-Rothschild that on this showing, may well challenge the supremacy of the 1996. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux.
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    Bordeaux 1 100 (JS)
    In Bond
    £12,563.00
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    James Suckling (100)

    The nose is fresh, bright, and dense. With aromas of violets, minerals, spices, cool stones, mint, dark fruits, and plum skins, this is beautiful. Very much still a baby right now, it needs much more time. This is a wine for the next generation. Finesse and elegance, truly a wine that makes you contemplate life. This is not about power, there is really nothing like it. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon. Do not even think about touching this for another ten years, 2020. 15+25+25+35. Find the wine
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    Bordeaux 1 100 (WS)
    Inc. VAT
    £7,840.80
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    Wine Spectator (100)

    Fabulous for the vintage. Very grapey, with dark fruits and cured tobacco, leading to a cedar and berry undertone. Full-bodied, with round and rich fruit and big, velvety tannins, yet with all in reserve. A generous, seductive young wine that surprises you with its length. Score range: 95-100
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    Bordeaux 1 95-100 (WS)
    In Bond
    £5,921.00
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    Wine Spectator (95-100)

    Crushed berries and intensity to this, with grapey, toasted oak and cedar notes. Big and concentrated, with chewy and firm tannins. Very long. Very tight, though, and just beginning to show its true nature. Score range: 95-100
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    Bordeaux 1 95-100 (WS)
    In Bond
    £6,522.00
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    Wine Spectator (95-100)

    Crushed berries and intensity to this, with grapey, toasted oak and cedar notes. Big and concentrated, with chewy and firm tannins. Very long. Very tight, though, and just beginning to show its true nature. Score range: 95-100
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    Bordeaux 1 100 (WA)
    In Bond
    £9,044.00
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    Wine Advocate (100)

    The 2003 Lafite Rothschild comes as close to perfection as any of the great Lafites made over the past three decades (1982, 1986, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010). This sensational effort came in at 12.7% natural alcohol, it is made in the style of one of this estate’s great classics, the 1959. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color to the rim along with a luxurious bouquet of cedarwood, lead pencil shaving, white chocolate, cocoa and cassis. Fat, rich, opulent and full-bodied with low acidity and stunning seductiveness and complexity, this noble wine possesses a bountiful, generous, heady style. It is just coming into its plateau of maturity where it should hold for 20-25 years. This is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage – make no mistake about that.
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    Bordeaux 1 100 (DC)
    In Bond
    £7,232.00
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    Decanter (100)

    This stunning wine is still extremely young, with an amazingly expressive nose with tea leaf hints. The aromatics keep building and building in the glass, and the elegance and persistency shine through. This was a drought year, unusual because it was almost perfect from beginning to end with not a drop of rain from May to October. Temperatures were not hot like 2003, of course, so the ripening was slow and complete, with relatively small yields and relatively high alcohol. This is full of energy and the flavours just keep on going, while those tannis have really started to embrace the fruit and showcase their elegance. It's concentrated and luscious yet focussed and beautifully balanced - the perfect example of how they don't need excess to deliver something truly extraordinary in Bordeaux.
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    In Bond
    Inc. VAT

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