Incredible experience with something so aged, yet hitting on all cylinders. Nose was Lafite perfection and palate was lively through the finish. What a treat
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Second tasting of this wine after a disappointing encounter four years ago. This one was far better. Even some black fruit left, though short lived. Strong secondary and tertiary notes with cedar, ash, mushrooms, leather and underwood. Peppery, almost shiraz like spicy ness. Surprisingly alive, good balance and pleasant lengthy finish.
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Drank in Hong Kong Past its prime. Slight cloudiness in the glass. A burgundian nose with hints of saddle, graphite, mint and earth. Sweet finish on the palate.
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My surprise of the night. Classic palate with a richer profile than I recall from past experiences with this vintage. Red cherry, spice, soil notes, nutskins. The palate did not fully open until two hours in
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A Magnum drunk at Amuse Bouche Hong Kong together with '34 Cheval Blanc. I have owned this Magnum for 6 years. It was originally supplied by O.W. Loeb and the occasion to compare it to the '34 Cheval Blanc was the perfect opportunity to open this wine. As is often the case with magnums the wine opened slowly but soon began to show those leafy Lafite characteristics. Once it had revealed itself there was no holding this wine back. The clarity was sparkling and on the palate the wine performed like something 50 years its junior. Indeed it was mistaken for "something from the '80s" on the night. There is nothing quite like old claret when it delivers.
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This bottle was sourced from a member of the wine trade with deep contacts in Bordeaux. It was a very heavy bottle and about 70% of the label had disintegrated. The capsule was corroded, oxidized, and brittle. The cork was (amazingly) only a little crumbly and showed Lafite's branding.
This wine was from the best vintage of the 30's and had dropped a lot of sediment. It had a red center and light puce rims. The nose was quite muted at first and this was an excellent sign. Usually, these old wines are rather funky when first opened. After a couple hours, it developed a medium intensity nose of cherries, roses, tea, almond paste, and some Cuban cigar. This bottle's nose was shockingly fresh! On the nose alone I might have guessed the '59.
In the mouth, this wine was round with a light, velvety presence that just flowed over your palate like silk. There were some light rounded tannins but the wine was so integrated, balanced, and long it was mind boggling.
I was hoping this wine would be good, given the sketchy condition of the label and capsule. My hopes were more that realized as this bottle was terrific! This is another example of how fill and color are the most important indicators of quality.
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Not rated. Opened at Chateau Aiguefonde near Castres in the south of France at the occasion of a postponed family-trip to celebrate the 80th birthday of my mother, born in 1934. Level high shoulder. Turbid, unpleasant smell. Gone. Fortunately the 1934 Haut Brion was in somewhat better shape.
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Looking like a glass of rose hip tea, picture walking into a cedar closet, smoking an Cuban cigar with rocks and rose bushes and fresh cherries on the floor and you get the idea of how this smells. Youthful, spicy and packed with cassis and cherries, there was a touch of rusticity to the tannins, but it was not at all intrusive. I know I've been blessed, as I've tasted this 3 times now. Just when you think you're never going to taste it again, out comes another bottle.
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From a bottle with decent shoulder-fill. Cork came apart when pulled, however did not show signs of seepage. On the nose, initially overwhelming chemical fumes which then dissipated somewhat. Both nose and palate dominated with strong element of candied fruit - and not much else. Not very pleasant. Probably an off bottle, hence no rating.
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From a high, almost top shoulder fill bottle with an original cork was deeply colored for its age with an appearance of cola colored wine. Notes of Cuban cigars, truffles, Asian spice, tar, leather, earth, lead pencil, black fruit and tiny hints of orange flowers filled your nose with pleasure. In the mouth, the wine expressed the patina of age with soft, black fruit and spice. The long, finish lingered with notes of elegant plums and dark berries. The mouth feel is pure elegance and silk. This feels very regal. 95 Pts... Although, drinking Lafite from my father's birth year with my dad was a solid 100 Pt experience neither of us will ever forget!
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Bodeaux Raritäten Probe Day 1 1864-1949 (Haus der Harmonie, Bochum, Germany): Dark ruby colored with only slight orange rim Unobtrusive nose at the beginning a bit moldy but after this has gone nice candided cherries and some mint Good acidity and a decent amount of tannin left. Cherry and cassis aromas is getting better over time.
Some leftover from the carafe we split amongs a couple of tasters an hour later was even better.
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Copenhagen Tasting Group welcomes Tom in DC; 9/5/2004-9/10/2004 (Copenhagen): Brown in the glass. Scents of plumb and slightly rotten banana peel. Very simple and somewhat bitter in taste. This was an interesting wine to taste, albeit far from a hedonistic pleasure. This wine has seen better days. Maybe some people would have better luck and I do believe that this bottle had a low shoulder fill. Initially I gave a score of 75 points, but come to think of it a 'no-rating' is probably more appropriate.
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10/29/2023 - SinawoyCellars Likes this wine: 96 Points
Incredible experience with something so aged, yet hitting on all cylinders. Nose was Lafite perfection and palate was lively through the finish. What a treat
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7/13/2019 - svdheijden wrote:
Second tasting of this wine after a disappointing encounter four years ago. This one was far better. Even some black fruit left, though short lived. Strong secondary and tertiary notes with cedar, ash, mushrooms, leather and underwood. Peppery, almost shiraz like spicy ness. Surprisingly alive, good balance and pleasant lengthy finish.
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8/24/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Mature but still complete red fruit. High note sweet spice on the nose. Lengthy finish with soil and spice notes. 94-95
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9/19/2016 - RayOB wrote: 92 Points
Drank in Hong Kong
Past its prime. Slight cloudiness in the glass. A burgundian nose with hints of saddle, graphite, mint and earth. Sweet finish on the palate.
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7/19/2016 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 95 Points
My surprise of the night. Classic palate with a richer profile than I recall from past experiences with this vintage. Red cherry, spice, soil notes, nutskins. The palate did not fully open until two hours in
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2/27/2016 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Past its prime. Still drinkable though.
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10/29/2015 - steinersing wrote: 94 Points
from mag - this opened up surprisingly slowly, so took two hours to start to develop Lafite nose of graphite. In great shape and not at all tired.
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10/16/2015 - KoalaHK wrote:
A Magnum drunk at Amuse Bouche Hong Kong together with '34 Cheval Blanc. I have owned this Magnum for 6 years. It was originally supplied by O.W. Loeb and the occasion to compare it to the '34 Cheval Blanc was the perfect opportunity to open this wine. As is often the case with magnums the wine opened slowly but soon began to show those leafy Lafite characteristics. Once it had revealed itself there was no holding this wine back. The clarity was sparkling and on the palate the wine performed like something 50 years its junior. Indeed it was mistaken for "something from the '80s" on the night. There is nothing quite like old claret when it delivers.
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6/13/2015 - fclarity wrote: 96 Points
This bottle was sourced from a member of the wine trade with deep contacts in Bordeaux. It was a very heavy bottle and about 70% of the label had disintegrated. The capsule was corroded, oxidized, and brittle. The cork was (amazingly) only a little crumbly and showed Lafite's branding.
This wine was from the best vintage of the 30's and had dropped a lot of sediment. It had a red center and light puce rims. The nose was quite muted at first and this was an excellent sign. Usually, these old wines are rather funky when first opened. After a couple hours, it developed a medium intensity nose of cherries, roses, tea, almond paste, and some Cuban cigar. This bottle's nose was shockingly fresh! On the nose alone I might have guessed the '59.
In the mouth, this wine was round with a light, velvety presence that just flowed over your palate like silk. There were some light rounded tannins but the wine was so integrated, balanced, and long it was mind boggling.
I was hoping this wine would be good, given the sketchy condition of the label and capsule. My hopes were more that realized as this bottle was terrific! This is another example of how fill and color are the most important indicators of quality.
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5/16/2015 - svdheijden wrote:
Not rated. Opened at Chateau Aiguefonde near Castres in the south of France at the occasion of a postponed family-trip to celebrate the 80th birthday of my mother, born in 1934. Level high shoulder. Turbid, unpleasant smell. Gone. Fortunately the 1934 Haut Brion was in somewhat better shape.
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4/28/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Looking like a glass of rose hip tea, picture walking into a cedar closet, smoking an Cuban cigar with rocks and rose bushes and fresh cherries on the floor and you get the idea of how this smells. Youthful, spicy and packed with cassis and cherries, there was a touch of rusticity to the tannins, but it was not at all intrusive. I know I've been blessed, as I've tasted this 3 times now. Just when you think you're never going to taste it again, out comes another bottle.
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11/27/2010 - Baron Samedi wrote: flawed
From a bottle with decent shoulder-fill. Cork came apart when pulled, however did not show signs of seepage. On the nose, initially overwhelming chemical fumes which then dissipated somewhat. Both nose and palate dominated with strong element of candied fruit - and not much else. Not very pleasant. Probably an off bottle, hence no rating.
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11/1/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
From a high, almost top shoulder fill bottle with an original cork was deeply colored for its age with an appearance of cola colored wine. Notes of Cuban cigars, truffles, Asian spice, tar, leather, earth, lead pencil, black fruit and tiny hints of orange flowers filled your nose with pleasure. In the mouth, the wine expressed the patina of age with soft, black fruit and spice. The long, finish lingered with notes of elegant plums and dark berries. The mouth feel is pure elegance and silk. This feels very regal. 95 Pts... Although, drinking Lafite from my father's birth year with my dad was a solid 100 Pt experience neither of us will ever forget!
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1/11/2008 - SimonK wrote: 90 Points
Bodeaux Raritäten Probe Day 1 1864-1949 (Haus der Harmonie, Bochum, Germany): Dark ruby colored with only slight orange rim
Unobtrusive nose at the beginning a bit moldy but after this has gone nice candided cherries and some mint
Good acidity and a decent amount of tannin left.
Cherry and cassis aromas is getting better over time.
Some leftover from the carafe we split amongs a couple of tasters an hour later was even better.
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9/10/2004 - Joe Belmaati wrote:
Copenhagen Tasting Group welcomes Tom in DC; 9/5/2004-9/10/2004 (Copenhagen): Brown in the glass. Scents of plumb and slightly rotten banana peel. Very simple and somewhat bitter in taste. This was an interesting wine to taste, albeit far from a hedonistic pleasure. This wine has seen better days. Maybe some people would have better luck and I do believe that this bottle had a low shoulder fill. Initially I gave a score of 75 points, but come to think of it a 'no-rating' is probably more appropriate.
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