Very similar in style to the 1950 Montrose had at the same dinner. The ‘61 Lafon Rochet is a brilliant St. Estéphe from a brilliant vintage. Easily tasted and smelled 30+ years younger with bright red fruits and soil tones.
This actually took a good two hours to open up in decanter. If u question decanting old wines, I recommend at least an hour. Some may like less, some more - but I feel it gives the wine enough time to breath without missing the fruit as it evolves and allows you to take in all its secondary characteristics and tertiary glory through its drinking life span.
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Surprisingly, the content was light refreshing fresh berries! It’s shocking how fresh the berries are, almost freshly squeezed! That alone is enough for today’s storytelling for a 57 year old bottle.
In addition, it must’ve been a highly acidic bottle when it was young, as the acidity was really prominent. Although we have to bear in mind acidity doesn’t degrade over time.
It’s certainly a pleasure to be treated by such an aged bottle, cheers! more tasting note in finewines.com.sg
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From 375mL So insane…..layers on the nose…sweet cassis, flowers, black currant, pencil lead, graphite, earth, mushroom, forest floor….just nuts….so awesome Palate is so pure and powerful…is this 1989? Black currents, cassis, mineral, earth, forest floor. Finish is long, lush and layered...wow
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This wine needs some time to come together in the decanter, but when it does its bouquet reveals a pleasing melange of red and blackcurrant, tobacco and soil tones. In many ways this is a typical rustic old-style St. Estephe, with noticeable acidity and simple but transparent flavors. Thanks to the vintage, it remains quite juicy, textural and large-scaled, but the tannins have faded away and its vibrancy is beginning to flag without the promise of all that much more complexity to come.
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We drank the 61 Pape Clement along side the 61 Lafon-Rochet. An interesting comparison. The Pape Clement was the more hedonistic, presenting an intriguing kaleidoscope of fruits. The Lafon-Rochet was pure, with a beautiful sweetness. Both improved over an hour, which was surprising. Both had low shoulder fills.
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Wine Guy Weekend Chez Doktas Take 2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008 (Collingwood, Ontario): Wine Guy Weekend Chez DoktaPs: Man, do St-Estephe's last. Built like a rock. Or is it strong enough for a man but made for a woman. In any case, I digress. This had life to it and the very first 61 I've ever had.Lots of tobacco on the nose with some kirch and pencil shaving notes. Palate was typical of other older wine, that infamous orange pekoe tea with some lemon notes. The nose seemed more interesting and complex than the palate. This is definitely past its prime. Courtesy of F. G. a fine Toronto gentleman, as they say at Ritchies Auctioneers.
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6/12/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very similar in style to the 1950 Montrose had at the same dinner. The ‘61 Lafon Rochet is a brilliant St. Estéphe from a brilliant vintage. Easily tasted and smelled 30+ years younger with bright red fruits and soil tones.
This actually took a good two hours to open up in decanter. If u question decanting old wines, I recommend at least an hour. Some may like less, some more - but I feel it gives the wine enough time to breath without missing the fruit as it evolves and allows you to take in all its secondary characteristics and tertiary glory through its drinking life span.
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3/3/2020 - Wine by Bok wrote: 90 Points
AFTER 57 YEARS LATER….
Surprisingly, the content was light refreshing fresh berries! It’s shocking how fresh the berries are, almost freshly squeezed! That alone is enough for today’s storytelling for a 57 year old bottle.
In addition, it must’ve been a highly acidic bottle when it was young, as the acidity was really prominent. Although we have to bear in mind acidity doesn’t degrade over time.
It’s certainly a pleasure to be treated by such an aged bottle, cheers! more tasting note in finewines.com.sg
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7/9/2018 - BradE wrote:
Last bottle. Very lovely, sweet fruit if faded, and blossomed over the three hour lunch.
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7/15/2017 - Dave Canada wrote: 97 Points
From 375mL
So insane…..layers on the nose…sweet cassis, flowers, black currant, pencil lead, graphite, earth, mushroom, forest floor….just nuts….so awesome
Palate is so pure and powerful…is this 1989? Black currents, cassis, mineral, earth, forest floor.
Finish is long, lush and layered...wow
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5/14/2017 - GA wrote: 90 Points
well-blanced with fruit and finish
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3/6/2015 - BradE wrote:
Another good showing. Sweetness, purity of fruit. Low shoulder fill.
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8/28/2014 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 88 Points
This wine needs some time to come together in the decanter, but when it does its bouquet reveals a pleasing melange of red and blackcurrant, tobacco and soil tones. In many ways this is a typical rustic old-style St. Estephe, with noticeable acidity and simple but transparent flavors. Thanks to the vintage, it remains quite juicy, textural and large-scaled, but the tannins have faded away and its vibrancy is beginning to flag without the promise of all that much more complexity to come.
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2/22/2013 - BradE wrote:
We drank the 61 Pape Clement along side the 61 Lafon-Rochet. An interesting comparison. The Pape Clement was the more hedonistic, presenting an intriguing kaleidoscope of fruits. The Lafon-Rochet was pure, with a beautiful sweetness. Both improved over an hour, which was surprising. Both had low shoulder fills.
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10/1/2011 - Lord of the Bottles wrote: 90 Points
At Roberson 1961 Bordeaux horizontal. Earthy, fruit nose, strawberry nose. Some medecine taste, but evolved in the glass.
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3/12/2010 - JJL wrote:
Drank like a Rhone, spicy pepper and sour cherry. Very enjoyable, much better than the '59.
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8/12/2009 - BradE wrote:
A decent showing - not spectacular, but solid. Faded after30 minutes or so, but was fun for the short while.
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11/7/2008 - mimik wrote: 86 Points
Wine Guy Weekend Chez Doktas Take 2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008 (Collingwood, Ontario): Wine Guy Weekend Chez DoktaPs: Man, do St-Estephe's last. Built like a rock. Or is it strong enough for a man but made for a woman. In any case, I digress. This had life to it and the very first 61 I've ever had.Lots of tobacco on the nose with some kirch and pencil shaving notes. Palate was typical of other older wine, that infamous orange pekoe tea with some lemon notes. The nose seemed more interesting and complex than the palate. This is definitely past its prime. Courtesy of F. G. a fine Toronto gentleman, as they say at Ritchies Auctioneers.
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4/23/2008 - BradE wrote:
Drank quite well. We though it would be over the hill, but these are great.
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