Had it since release. Cellared. Intact cork. Low shoulder fill
Decanted.
Crazy nose. Took 10 to 15 minutes to fully open up. Faded after 45 minutes or so.
If you appreciate well made old Bordeaux, this is what you will find in Websters Dictionary - it is the definition of a greatly constructed wine built to age and reveal the beauty and gift of the human drinking experience.
It still has time left on its clock. I still have one left and will let it celebrate its 40th birthday with us…. Praying I am around then too :-) That said, feel free to partake now.
Wishes for a great day to all. David
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted briefly. Crusty, loose, and saturated cork but it came out firm and in one piece and the wine was in great shape. Fully mature of course, with completely integrated red fruit, oak, and faded tannins, still broad shoulders somehow and some earth on the shortish finish. A treat! Drink up though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Extracted the cork with Ah-So and decanted shortly before serving. The cork was strong, dense and in excellent condition with wine penetration about one quarter of the length. There was a limited thick sediment in the bottom of the bottle and then a limited fined grained lees. Much less sediment than was expecting. Colour was deep garnet. The med+ nose had cassis, green pepper, cedar, graphite, spice and generally a Pauillac character. In the medium mouth it had cassis, cream, spice, was delicious and had a finish which both stretched on for ages (well over a minute) and cut through the food and persisted. Acidity was medium, tannin was med+ but very silky soft.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was enjoyed on Christmas night with my family. It was not paired with food and was drank after a Schrader RBS 2014 that was paired with a dry aged Flannery Club Roast.
The provenance is not completely known but we do know it was stored properly in my father's wine fridge since 1995. It was sat upright for approximately 8 hours prior to opening. Opened using a Durand. The cork was 3/4 wine stained but no visible signs of seepage and came out easily with the Durand. It was poured through a mesh filter into a decanter, only for purposes of sediment. Suprisingly, there was minimal sediment but when the foil capsule was removed there was a hard white crust around the top of the bottle and the top of the cork. The fill was a little above top shoulder.
The wine was drank out of a Riedel Sommeliers Black Tie Mature Bordeaux Glass. The bowl on this glass has a smaller breathing space than the Bordeaux Grand Cru to de-emphasize the aromas of age, reduce tannin levels, and highlight the fruit. The smaller bowl type of glass is highly recommended when drinking this bottle and a bowl that de-emphasizes the aromas of age were not lost on this wine. However, there was minimal to no fruit to highlight.
Decant time was minimal, purely to separate out the sediment. However, the wine got better after approximately 15 minutes of air. The color was still a darker ruby red with a little brown bricking on the edges,, but less than expected. Upon the initial pour, there was a barnyard funk bouquet. However, this funk blew off after approximately 20 minutes and the bouquet was much more pleasant and enjoyable. The flavors were almost, If not all, tertiary. There were hints of sage, forest floor, mushroom and earth. There were minimal tannins but they were still slightly present. There was minimal acid. The wine progressed nicely for the first 30-40 minutes and then slowly started to decline losing some flavor and becoming a bit more muted. It is best to be drank within 90 minutes, as too much air could be its enemy.
The wine was very pleasant and better than expected. It's past its prime but still enjoyable to drink. It was a great experience the exceeded expectations! If you have a bottle, there is no reason to hold on any longer, as this will not get any better than it is today but still worth popping the cork!
Aroma is magical and promising, but palate is not on par with the nose, loosing it in complexity. It could have been an extraordinary wine if had the palate of '81.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank 3 bottles for special dinner 1989 Mouton, 1987 Lafite, and 2007 Qintessa. Mouton smoothest, strong earthy tobacco nose and taste. Probably several years past its prime; Lafite could even get better - more complexity. Quintessa outstanding fruit - hold another 5 years to balance out.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Le nez est intéressant mais oxydatif avec une pointe de ketchup (pas encore de tabasco toutefois). En bouche, c’est intéressant mais heureusement moins oxydé: les tannins sont fondus, les arômes sont tertiaires (cuir, mine de crayon) mais il y a du poivron (surprenant pour un vin si âgé). En agitant le verre, la bouche s’améliore pour quelques minutes puis s’éteint - un vin encore agréable à boire mais au-delà de son apogée…
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tyvärr en stor besvikelse. Vinet hade helt passerat sitt bäst före datum. Totalt uttorkad frukt och helt ur balans. Det värsta av allt var att jag dessutom öppnade det tillsammans med en flaska Lafite 1985 som var korkad. Snacka om oflyt.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
25 år er en del for en vin og udviklingen i flasken var bestem god. Fin fin prop og druft om syn var perkekt. Vi drak vinen alene uden man med lidt brød. Det stiller store krav til vinen som udviklede sig fint i glasset. Næsten ingen vandkant, teglrød - fin duft af frugt og lidt tannin. Afrundet Smag af solbær og skovbær tobak i fin harmoni. Eftersmagen lang med en anelse syre. En rig oplevelse!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful deep red color with no browning on the edges Nose of graphite and pencil shavings Fruit was present and the wine was balanced (12%) Finish was long and smooth It was grippy, but in a good way with silky tannins. This bottle was a very good example as the fill level was almost to the foil
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The published reports say that his wine is way past its time. I cannot disagree more. It showed not hint of age in appearance. Fruity atoma. Silky smooth.It did fianalyy die after about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine was a bit around the bend but still a Lafite with a satiny feel and blended tanins. It reminded me of fine saddle leather-- in a good way. Memorable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
BLACK CURRANT, BLACK CHERRIES, LEAD PENCIL AND EARTHINESS IN THE NOSE. BLACK CHERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH, FRUIT HAS DRIED OUT BUT STILL QUITE NICE.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1987 Bordeaux Tasting (Lafayette, Ca.): Tasting 8 1987 Bordeaux with Andre Fournier at Primas. Rich, red color in the glass, close, fruity nose, mouth was big on fruit but lacking the structure and tannins of other Lafites, medium finish and aftertaste. My #5.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/6/2023 - dbermanmd Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had it since release.
Cellared.
Intact cork. Low shoulder fill
Decanted.
Crazy nose.
Took 10 to 15 minutes to fully open up.
Faded after 45 minutes or so.
If you appreciate well made old Bordeaux, this is what you will find in Websters Dictionary - it is the definition of a greatly constructed wine built to age and reveal the beauty and gift of the human drinking experience.
It still has time left on its clock.
I still have one left and will let it celebrate its 40th birthday with us….
Praying I am around then too :-)
That said, feel free to partake now.
Wishes for a great day to all.
David
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2022 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted briefly. Crusty, loose, and saturated cork but it came out firm and in one piece and the wine was in great shape. Fully mature of course, with completely integrated red fruit, oak, and faded tannins, still broad shoulders somehow and some earth on the shortish finish. A treat! Drink up though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2021 - Elliot Vale Likes this wine: 95 Points
Extracted the cork with Ah-So and decanted shortly before serving. The cork was strong, dense and in excellent condition with wine penetration about one quarter of the length. There was a limited thick sediment in the bottom of the bottle and then a limited fined grained lees. Much less sediment than was expecting.
Colour was deep garnet. The med+ nose had cassis, green pepper, cedar, graphite, spice and generally a Pauillac character. In the medium mouth it had cassis, cream, spice, was delicious and had a finish which both stretched on for ages (well over a minute) and cut through the food and persisted. Acidity was medium, tannin was med+ but very silky soft.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2020 - JustBreathe680 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This bottle was enjoyed on Christmas night with my family. It was not paired with food and was drank after a Schrader RBS 2014 that was paired with a dry aged Flannery Club Roast.
The provenance is not completely known but we do know it was stored properly in my father's wine fridge since 1995. It was sat upright for approximately 8 hours prior to opening. Opened using a Durand. The cork was 3/4 wine stained but no visible signs of seepage and came out easily with the Durand. It was poured through a mesh filter into a decanter, only for purposes of sediment. Suprisingly, there was minimal sediment but when the foil capsule was removed there was a hard white crust around the top of the bottle and the top of the cork. The fill was a little above top shoulder.
The wine was drank out of a Riedel Sommeliers Black Tie Mature Bordeaux Glass. The bowl on this glass has a smaller breathing space than the Bordeaux Grand Cru to de-emphasize the aromas of age, reduce tannin levels, and highlight the fruit. The smaller bowl type of glass is highly recommended when drinking this bottle and a bowl that de-emphasizes the aromas of age were not lost on this wine. However, there was minimal to no fruit to highlight.
Decant time was minimal, purely to separate out the sediment. However, the wine got better after approximately 15 minutes of air. The color was still a darker ruby red with a little brown bricking on the edges,, but less than expected. Upon the initial pour, there was a barnyard funk bouquet. However, this funk blew off after approximately 20 minutes and the bouquet was much more pleasant and enjoyable. The flavors were almost, If not all, tertiary. There were hints of sage, forest floor, mushroom and earth. There were minimal tannins but they were still slightly present. There was minimal acid. The wine progressed nicely for the first 30-40 minutes and then slowly started to decline losing some flavor and becoming a bit more muted. It is best to be drank within 90 minutes, as too much air could be its enemy.
The wine was very pleasant and better than expected. It's past its prime but still enjoyable to drink. It was a great experience the exceeded expectations! If you have a bottle, there is no reason to hold on any longer, as this will not get any better than it is today but still worth popping the cork!
Rating: 90.5
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/28/2019 - StasMedvedev.lv Likes this wine: 94 Points
Château Lafite Rothschild vertical 1958-1994 (Moscow): 🏅Rating 94/100 (4,4⭐)
Aroma is magical and promising, but palate is not on par with the nose, loosing it in complexity. It could have been an extraordinary wine if had the palate of '81.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2016 - dalemosier Likes this wine:
Drank 3 bottles for special dinner 1989 Mouton, 1987 Lafite, and 2007 Qintessa. Mouton smoothest, strong earthy tobacco nose and taste. Probably several years past its prime; Lafite could even get better - more complexity. Quintessa outstanding fruit - hold another 5 years to balance out.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2015 - Mazy Likes this wine: 85 Points
Le nez est intéressant mais oxydatif avec une pointe de ketchup (pas encore de tabasco toutefois). En bouche, c’est intéressant mais heureusement moins oxydé: les tannins sont fondus, les arômes sont tertiaires (cuir, mine de crayon) mais il y a du poivron (surprenant pour un vin si âgé). En agitant le verre, la bouche s’améliore pour quelques minutes puis s’éteint - un vin encore agréable à boire mais au-delà de son apogée…
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2014 - willthethrill wrote: 91 Points
OK magnum...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2013 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 82 Points
Tyvärr en stor besvikelse. Vinet hade helt passerat sitt bäst före datum. Totalt uttorkad frukt och helt ur balans. Det värsta av allt var att jag dessutom öppnade det tillsammans med en flaska Lafite 1985 som var korkad. Snacka om oflyt.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2012 - Bureso wrote: 90 Points
25 år er en del for en vin og udviklingen i flasken var bestem god. Fin fin prop og druft om syn var perkekt. Vi drak vinen alene uden man med lidt brød. Det stiller store krav til vinen som udviklede sig fint i glasset. Næsten ingen vandkant, teglrød - fin duft af frugt og lidt tannin. Afrundet Smag af solbær og skovbær tobak i fin harmoni. Eftersmagen lang med en anelse syre. En rig oplevelse!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - Hejahif wrote:
Lukten var tam men fantastiskt god i smaken. Känns som att man måste dricka den snabbt för smaken blir blekare ganska snabbt
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - Hejahif wrote:
Trots att den skulle vara utgången 2003 var den väldigt god med mycket tannin kvar. Bör drickas senast 2011.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2009 - hajoka wrote: 75 Points
this wine was gone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2009 - quagland wrote:
Wonderful deep red color with no browning on the edges
Nose of graphite and pencil shavings
Fruit was present and the wine was balanced (12%)
Finish was long and smooth
It was grippy, but in a good way with silky tannins.
This bottle was a very good example as the fill level was almost to the foil
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2008 - ljl wrote: 92 Points
The published reports say that his wine is way past its time. I cannot disagree more. It showed not hint of age in appearance. Fruity atoma. Silky smooth.It did fianalyy die after about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2005 - jds wrote:
The wine was a bit around the bend but still a Lafite with a satiny feel and blended tanins. It reminded me of fine saddle leather-- in a good way. Memorable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2003 - buckeye76 wrote: 90 Points
BLACK CURRANT, BLACK CHERRIES, LEAD PENCIL AND EARTHINESS IN THE NOSE. BLACK CHERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH, FRUIT HAS DRIED OUT BUT STILL QUITE NICE.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/1991 - dbg wrote:
light, very low tannins, enjoyed by all
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/1990 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 80 Points
1987 Bordeaux Tasting (Lafayette, Ca.): Tasting 8 1987 Bordeaux with Andre Fournier at Primas. Rich, red color in the glass, close, fruity nose, mouth was big on fruit but lacking the structure and tannins of other Lafites, medium finish and aftertaste. My #5.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/1990 - dbg wrote:
Deep mineral, woodsy, fruity nose. Very rich & intense, not much
tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment