Whole Lotta Lafite; 1/26/2024-1/27/2024 (Wine Watch, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida): Purple in color, purple in flavor, as in pure grape juice. Immense concentration. Super ripe but not hot or stewed. Really tiring to drink; one sip is plenty. I lack the skill others have to determine how this will evolve. Impressive in its infancy but I can't put a number on it.
Bordeaux 2018 - 5 Years On - 7 Reds: Time to check in on some top 2018s, and the initial observations were all confirmed: A) This is obviously the ripest, sweetest Bordeaux vintage in the last decade. While only one wine (Cos d'Estournel, 88pts) was overripe and overdone, two others (Calon Segur - 94pts, Grand Puy Lacoste - 91pts) are not for purists and are quite sweet - at least this young. B) Despite the ripeness, the wines are generally very balanced and harmonious, not as extracted or thick as many 2009/2010s. C) The structural frames are of high quality with ultra-fine tannins and good acid backbones. However, with so many other great vintages produced in recent years, this is not the vintage to chase - especially for purists. The group winner was the highly elegant, seductive yet aristocratic Pichon Lalande (rated 95pts), just ahead of my WOTN, the floral, perfumed, airy Canon (96pts).
TN: In terms of substance, complexity, no other wine today got close to this Lafite. While still being a closed, this showed so much promise and gave us a peak into the future and all it has in store: lots red berries, even more very fresh blue fruit, herbs, menthol notes, coffee, minerality. In typical Lafite fashion, this quite elegant with a fine structure and good freshness and a superb purity, but this is decades away from being ready. Promising but on a 93/94pts today.
Decanting: Decanted for 90 minutes, back in the bottle, consumed two hours later. This was still a bit muted and could have used a longer decant.
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Part of a small Bordeaux 2018 5-years on tasting. The wines were partially served single-blind. Main observations: 1/ the vintage pairs concentration and ripeness with weightless and elegant structures. 2/ tannins are generally finely grained and well-integrated. 3/ Extraction levels managed well with only 1 instance of heat and no overripe fruit. 4/ Best bottles were Canon and Pichon Longueville.
Tasting note: Tasted blind. Polished and extracted to perfection showing fruit of freshly picked berries, on balance more black and cool in style. Densely packed with aromas, adding violets, smoke and well-integrated oak, spice and dried herbs. Full of stuffing, dense and facetted palate. spiced and dried herbs.
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Commanderie de Bordeaux: 2000 Lafite, LLC, & Cos (The Minikahda Club, Mpls): Very dark red/purple color with a 3mm clear edge. Double decanted, slow O for about 3 hours. Drank a glass over 2 plus hours. Deep black fruits, blackberry, chocolate, Creme de cassis, taut, oak, vanilla, quite vivacious, impressive, yet still shrouded in the shadow of its youth. The most impressive of the trio of '18 Lafite, LLC and Cos. Super potential. Score reserved.
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Tasted from a 375ml bottle, before the 750 beds down for the long rest. Decanted with aeration and sampled repeatedly from Gabriel Glas Gold over the course of 4 hours.
This wine is already so incredible; balanced and exuding elegance. The nose is bright, with freshly cut flowers, blackberries, and a bit of soy. On the palate, it’s delicate and silky, with black fruit, pencil lead, and a piercing minerality. The finish feels undying, carrying on for over a minute.
It’s the greatest wine I’ve had the pleasure to taste in the many years since I first discovered the world of fine wine. I hesitate to give it 100 because I don’t have the luxury of context with multiple vintages of Lafite and other first growths.
The straight dope: if the cost of buying Lafite doesn’t make you blink, then it’s worth every penny. I’m blessed to have been able to get these, but it’s not something I can do regularly. So, for the “rest of us”, having finally tasted it, I can’t say with honesty that the juice justifies the premium when there are some incredible wines available at a fraction of the cost from other producers in Bordeaux (and elsewhere).
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Consumed two 375s, one of which received 24 hours in the decanter and the other 2 hours of air. Very good wine; entertaining didn’t provide an opportunity for notes. The one decanted for 24 hours was appreciably better, so if I were going to try this again, I’d probably decant one for 24 and one for 48 hours to compare.
Fabulously seductive in this Lafite style where this lovely violet / floral perfume lies above and charms everyone with its splendor along with black currants, blackberries, massive spices, bacon, herbs, woods and mushrooms. Lafite in the style of this underlying charm that lies there and spreads joy, not in a massive, but in a balanced way. Wonderful sublime fruit of blackberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, leather, herbs, licorice, chalk, salt tone, cool barrel spices and this little light sweetness that spreads joy on a long, complex and structured finish. Fabulous acid and tannin structure. Reference.
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Sensational! Rich juicy black and red fruits, deep minerals, graphite, tar and undergrowth. Lovely tobacco, smoke, sage and pepper herbs. Intense yet just medium body and so elegant palate. Long lingering mineral finish. So satisfying and in fact very classic Lafite. Combining power and restrain. Not as showy and concentrated as the Mouton Rothschild 2018 so to speak but is equally charming with its beautiful depth.
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Criminal...But not my bottle. Lafite perfumed earth with incredible depth. The finish was mouth watering good and lasted for over 2 minutes. Feels a teeny bit hot but incredibly long. We shall see what father time does to this. HOLD_
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Hello im back. Lafite pinging outerspace. The nose is so deep, so dark, so satisfying, its like a blackhole communicating to you by scent.
At first sip, it is tight but loosens after an hour to powdery tannins. 30 min later spots of sweetness, bits of honey tangerine peel with a semi dry finish makes it quite drinkable while burying the complexity. Then as the sweetness wither away the more powerful tannins reveal themselves the wine tightens up again and the baby monster slowly goes back to sleep.
So we cork it back in and will taste again a few day later.
Compelling in every sense of the word, you know you're in for something special just from the depth of color. From there you experience a cornucopia of aromatics meshing tobacco leaf, cigar box, cedar chest, red currants, cherries, red plums, 5 spice, flowers and earthy scents. Rich yet incredibly refined, the wine offers incredibly silky textures, a beautiful purity to the fruit and a seamless finish that exceeds 60 seconds. Produced from a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and .5% Petit Verdot,13.3% ABV.
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Oops, I forgot to put my comment: Stirring. Great nobility of expression on a background of black fruits and spices with the unique note of cedar. The body is beautifully sculpted, with a millimeter architecture. It unfolds its structure smoothly but with a frame of relentless precision, a dynamic of freshness and a magnificent sap. Breathtaking length.
Το κρασί είναι ΟΚ. Μπορείτε να το πιείτε και ΤΩΡΑ! Αφήστε αυτούς που σας λένε πιείτε το μετά από 25 χρόνια. Άσε μας ρε. Seize the day, folks. Σαν τα δάνεια στις τράπεζες ένα πράγμα, αν είσαι στα 60 δύσκολα το δάνειο. Έτσι και μ’αυτούς, σου λένε απλά είσαι ήδη 75 ετών, καλύτερα άστο δεν είναι για σένα. Ρε δε πας στη γωνία να δεις άμα έρχομαι (αμετάφραστο)
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Bordeaux 2018 from barrel: some selections (Bordeaux): Defies the high alcohol of the vintage at “just 13.3%” and manages pristine balance and opulence. Cool graphite nose. The palate reflects impressive density, freshness, pencil lead and suave finesse, yet also satiny tannins, with a Pauillac edge. A great wine in the making, with 91% Cabernet Sauvignon. Comparisons are being made to the 1959, by experienced tasters who actually know the 1959. 98-100
The color matches a long obscured ruby jewel. The initial sip shows its sophistication, grace and refinement and there is an extraordinary purity in the fruit. Before taking a second sip for confirmation, you'll find tobacco, lead pencil, cedar, flowers, cherry pipe tobacco and if you dig really deep, you'll discover a subtle essence of orange in the background. On the palate, the wine is supple, silky, long and focused. Precision is an often misunderstood term used by wine writers. 2018 Lafite Rothschild is the poster child for precision in a wine. Never the most powerful of the First Growths, instead here, you find a wine of perfect balance, elegance and harmony with a unified, seemingly endless finish. Produced from a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and .5% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.73. The Grand Vin represents 40% of the harvest, which took place September 17 to September October 4. 98-100 Pts
Geproefd op Château Lafite Rothschild op woensdag 03.04.2019. Neus nog redelijk gesloten. In de smaak vol en breed attaque. Heel veel zwart fruit en kruiden. Hout mooi geïntegreerd. Lange afdronk. Verfijnd en klassiek. 97-99
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1/26/2024 - sdr Likes this wine:
Whole Lotta Lafite; 1/26/2024-1/27/2024 (Wine Watch, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida): Purple in color, purple in flavor, as in pure grape juice. Immense concentration. Super ripe but not hot or stewed. Really tiring to drink; one sip is plenty. I lack the skill others have to determine how this will evolve. Impressive in its infancy but I can't put a number on it.
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9/3/2023 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux 2018 - 5 Years On - 7 Reds: Time to check in on some top 2018s, and the initial observations were all confirmed: A) This is obviously the ripest, sweetest Bordeaux vintage in the last decade. While only one wine (Cos d'Estournel, 88pts) was overripe and overdone, two others (Calon Segur - 94pts, Grand Puy Lacoste - 91pts) are not for purists and are quite sweet - at least this young. B) Despite the ripeness, the wines are generally very balanced and harmonious, not as extracted or thick as many 2009/2010s. C) The structural frames are of high quality with ultra-fine tannins and good acid backbones. However, with so many other great vintages produced in recent years, this is not the vintage to chase - especially for purists. The group winner was the highly elegant, seductive yet aristocratic Pichon Lalande (rated 95pts), just ahead of my WOTN, the floral, perfumed, airy Canon (96pts).
TN: In terms of substance, complexity, no other wine today got close to this Lafite. While still being a closed, this showed so much promise and gave us a peak into the future and all it has in store: lots red berries, even more very fresh blue fruit, herbs, menthol notes, coffee, minerality. In typical Lafite fashion, this quite elegant with a fine structure and good freshness and a superb purity, but this is decades away from being ready. Promising but on a 93/94pts today.
Decanting: Decanted for 90 minutes, back in the bottle, consumed two hours later. This was still a bit muted and could have used a longer decant.
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6/19/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 96 Points
Part of a small Bordeaux 2018 5-years on tasting. The wines were partially served single-blind. Main observations: 1/ the vintage pairs concentration and ripeness with weightless and elegant structures. 2/ tannins are generally finely grained and well-integrated. 3/ Extraction levels managed well with only 1 instance of heat and no overripe fruit. 4/ Best bottles were Canon and Pichon Longueville.
Tasting note:
Tasted blind. Polished and extracted to perfection showing fruit of freshly picked berries, on balance more black and cool in style. Densely packed with aromas, adding violets, smoke and well-integrated oak, spice and dried herbs. Full of stuffing, dense and facetted palate. spiced and dried herbs.
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6/14/2023 - rocknroller wrote:
Commanderie de Bordeaux: 2000 Lafite, LLC, & Cos (The Minikahda Club, Mpls): Very dark red/purple color with a 3mm clear edge. Double decanted, slow O for about 3 hours. Drank a glass over 2 plus hours. Deep black fruits, blackberry, chocolate, Creme de cassis, taut, oak, vanilla, quite vivacious, impressive, yet still shrouded in the shadow of its youth. The most impressive of the trio of '18 Lafite, LLC and Cos. Super potential. Score reserved.
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10/14/2022 - cshouston Likes this wine: 99 Points
Tasted from a 375ml bottle, before the 750 beds down for the long rest. Decanted with aeration and sampled repeatedly from Gabriel Glas Gold over the course of 4 hours.
This wine is already so incredible; balanced and exuding elegance. The nose is bright, with freshly cut flowers, blackberries, and a bit of soy. On the palate, it’s delicate and silky, with black fruit, pencil lead, and a piercing minerality. The finish feels undying, carrying on for over a minute.
It’s the greatest wine I’ve had the pleasure to taste in the many years since I first discovered the world of fine wine. I hesitate to give it 100 because I don’t have the luxury of context with multiple vintages of Lafite and other first growths.
The straight dope: if the cost of buying Lafite doesn’t make you blink, then it’s worth every penny. I’m blessed to have been able to get these, but it’s not something I can do regularly. So, for the “rest of us”, having finally tasted it, I can’t say with honesty that the juice justifies the premium when there are some incredible wines available at a fraction of the cost from other producers in Bordeaux (and elsewhere).
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12/12/2021 - birdeaux Likes this wine:
Consumed two 375s, one of which received 24 hours in the decanter and the other 2 hours of air. Very good wine; entertaining didn’t provide an opportunity for notes. The one decanted for 24 hours was appreciably better, so if I were going to try this again, I’d probably decant one for 24 and one for 48 hours to compare.
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11/30/2021 - Andre Brattland wrote: 98 Points
Fabulously seductive in this Lafite style where this lovely violet / floral perfume lies above and charms everyone with its splendor along with black currants, blackberries, massive spices, bacon, herbs, woods and mushrooms. Lafite in the style of this underlying charm that lies there and spreads joy, not in a massive, but in a balanced way. Wonderful sublime fruit of blackberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, leather, herbs, licorice, chalk, salt tone, cool barrel spices and this little light sweetness that spreads joy on a long, complex and structured finish. Fabulous acid and tannin structure. Reference.
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11/28/2021 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 98 Points
Sensational! Rich juicy black and red fruits, deep minerals, graphite, tar and undergrowth. Lovely tobacco, smoke, sage and pepper herbs. Intense yet just medium body and so elegant palate. Long lingering mineral finish. So satisfying and in fact very classic Lafite. Combining power and restrain. Not as showy and concentrated as the Mouton Rothschild 2018 so to speak but is equally charming with its beautiful depth.
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11/11/2021 - Purple Tooth wrote: 98 Points
Criminal...But not my bottle. Lafite perfumed earth with incredible depth. The finish was mouth watering good and lasted for over 2 minutes. Feels a teeny bit hot but incredibly long. We shall see what father time does to this. HOLD_
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5/30/2021 - Monkeygrape Likes this wine:
Hello im back. Lafite pinging outerspace. The nose is so deep, so dark, so satisfying, its like a blackhole communicating to you by scent.
At first sip, it is tight but loosens after an hour to powdery tannins. 30 min later spots of sweetness, bits of honey tangerine peel with a semi dry finish makes it quite drinkable while burying the complexity. Then as the sweetness wither away the more powerful tannins reveal themselves the wine tightens up again and the baby monster slowly goes back to sleep.
So we cork it back in and will taste again a few day later.
Poured in glass to breath, tasted over 3 hours.
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3/9/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
Compelling in every sense of the word, you know you're in for something special just from the depth of color. From there you experience a cornucopia of aromatics meshing tobacco leaf, cigar box, cedar chest, red currants, cherries, red plums, 5 spice, flowers and earthy scents. Rich yet incredibly refined, the wine offers incredibly silky textures, a beautiful purity to the fruit and a seamless finish that exceeds 60 seconds. Produced from a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and .5% Petit Verdot,13.3% ABV.
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10/28/2020 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 100 Points
Oops, I forgot to put my comment:
Stirring. Great nobility of expression on a background of black fruits and spices with the unique note of cedar. The body is beautifully sculpted, with a millimeter architecture. It unfolds its structure smoothly but with a frame of relentless precision, a dynamic of freshness and a magnificent sap. Breathtaking length.
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10/27/2020 - Ramonee Confit Likes this wine: 100 Points
Fabuleux, le plus grand Lafite que j'aie gouté. Encore meilleur que le 2016
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5/9/2020 - PAOK Wines Brussels wrote:
Το κρασί είναι ΟΚ. Μπορείτε να το πιείτε και ΤΩΡΑ! Αφήστε αυτούς που σας λένε πιείτε το μετά από 25 χρόνια. Άσε μας ρε. Seize the day, folks. Σαν τα δάνεια στις τράπεζες ένα πράγμα, αν είσαι στα 60 δύσκολα το δάνειο. Έτσι και μ’αυτούς, σου λένε απλά είσαι ήδη 75 ετών, καλύτερα άστο δεν είναι για σένα. Ρε δε πας στη γωνία να δεις άμα έρχομαι (αμετάφραστο)
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5/10/2019 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Bordeaux 2018 from barrel: some selections (Bordeaux): Defies the high alcohol of the vintage at “just 13.3%” and manages pristine balance and opulence. Cool graphite nose. The palate reflects impressive density, freshness, pencil lead and suave finesse, yet also satiny tannins, with a Pauillac edge. A great wine in the making, with 91% Cabernet Sauvignon. Comparisons are being made to the 1959, by experienced tasters who actually know the 1959. 98-100
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4/19/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
The color matches a long obscured ruby jewel. The initial sip shows its sophistication, grace and refinement and there is an extraordinary purity in the fruit. Before taking a second sip for confirmation, you'll find tobacco, lead pencil, cedar, flowers, cherry pipe tobacco and if you dig really deep, you'll discover a subtle essence of orange in the background. On the palate, the wine is supple, silky, long and focused. Precision is an often misunderstood term used by wine writers. 2018 Lafite Rothschild is the poster child for precision in a wine. Never the most powerful of the First Growths, instead here, you find a wine of perfect balance, elegance and harmony with a unified, seemingly endless finish. Produced from a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and .5% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.73. The Grand Vin represents 40% of the harvest, which took place September 17 to September October 4. 98-100 Pts
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4/3/2019 - dvansteenderen Likes this wine: 98 Points
Geproefd op Château Lafite Rothschild op woensdag 03.04.2019.
Neus nog redelijk gesloten. In de smaak vol en breed attaque. Heel veel zwart fruit en kruiden. Hout mooi geïntegreerd. Lange afdronk. Verfijnd en klassiek. 97-99
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