This could be the best 1953 I have ever tasted, as well as competing for being one of the best older vintages of Lafite I have ever tasted! This bottle had everything a great Lafite should have. Soaring, complex, aromatics, elegant, soft, refined, textures, layers of spicy, sweet, vibrant, pure, red fruits, and a seamless finish that did not want to quit. This bottle was simply mesmerizing. If you have the money, and you can find a bottle with good provenance, and you want one of the best, wine-tasting experiences of your life, look no further! Drink from 2024-2033.
Whole Lotta Lafite; 1/26/2024-1/27/2024 (Wine Watch, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida): This is what very old claret is supposed to be but rarely is. From a delicate vintage of which Lafite is reputed to be one of the stars. Color as expected for age from a sound bottle - pale tawny, some brown at the meniscus. Gorgeous subtle bouquet of rose and black tea. Not feeble on the palate even if the tertiary flavors of dried fruit demand attention. One of the favorites of the group. A lucky privilege to drink a well preserved bottle of this legend. I might have added a point or two out of respect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind, I was told after the fact that this wine had a mid-shoulder fill. The medium intensity nose put forth mocha, cherries, tan spices, and some roasted meat.
In the mouth, this wine was relatively refined with light, integrated taninn, firm acidity, and very good length. It was attractive and had excellent complexity.
This particular bottle seem pretty far along the maturity curve which I will attribute to less than optimal storage. I would say it is a wine that is more susceptible to poor handling, than say, the 61 Latour.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind, I was told this wine had a mid-shoulder fill. While is was not undrinkable, it was clear that it was not what it should be either. There was some high-toned VA and some oxidized flavors the compromised what otherwise might have been attractive characteristics. Thus, I will not rate this wine other than to say it can fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Knowing the extreme bottle variation among wines of this age, but still disappointed in this bottle. Low shoulder, badly depressed cork despite years in a temperature controlled cellar since purchase from a leading auction house, upon opening this wine was pale, almost clear in color with tons of sediment. After a short decant it composed itself and stepped up nicely in the glass for a fleeting interlude of about an hour, showing black olives, peat and dark earth, but sadly not a classic by any means. NR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What makes some wines legendary? In many cases, it is their ability to exemplify an ideal, knitting together the best attributes of a particular vinous category, serving as a reference of completeness, character, and complexity. And the perfume of the 1953 Lafite is simply joyful perfection, celebrating the legacy of aromatic, elegant, lithe claret. The volume and purity of freshly sharpened pencil, cool cassis, fresh cedar, supple leather, unsmoked cigar, and aromatic lavender is mind-boggling. It’s a drink, it’s art, it’s history, it’s philosophy, it’s archetypal Lafite. The palate doesn’t stack up from this bottle, but I’m not sure I care after being given a profound nose — and this from a mid shoulder bottle. Other bottles may boast stronger palates. But smell this wine and you understand what this style of elegant Bordeaux can aspire to. It is a monument.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smelling this magnificent Bordeaux was nostalgic for me. It took me to my childhood game of playing pencils with my Pentechs! Ahhh - the smell of pencil lead, splintered wood and of course VICTORY!
The legendary 53 Lafite commands serious attention. It is built along the lines of how I imagine the 86 will be at 60+ years. As Lafite Rothschild is known for its elegance and sophistication, this 53 was all that with an additional depth of power. Sweet red fruits, asian spices and classic Pauillac graphite flavor. I really enjoyed this wine and look forward to revisiting it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
World's Greatest, Hong Kong - Night II (Garden Suite, Peninsula Hotel): Dark and moody, less projection but detailed. A little more tertiary whereas the ‘55 Haut Brion is forward and showy. Dried berry. On the palate this has great red fruit and is lush relative to the ‘55 Haut Brion. Structure and power. On the nose this has blossomed and is now highly expressive and floral. Very alive and dynamic. The perfume.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind, this wine had a medium red center with tawny rims. The medium+ intensity nose offered up currants, prunes, tea, toasted wood, cuban cigar, and a hint of menthol.
In the mouth, this wine was rich but had great balance, firm acidity, and excellent length. Despite being open 5+ hours before we started tasting, its flavor profile moved around like a kalidiscope. All of its incarnations were interesting but none of them perfect to my taste.
This bottle was very much like my last bottle of this wine. It was very enjoyable but certainly not going to be getting any better. Enjoy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lafite is renowned for its elegance, but frankly on its account one can tend to forget its depth and drive. This bottle reminds you of it quite forcefully. It plays on strength rather than elegance. A huge nose and though the bouquet is maturing, the malty, cardamom, pencil, and cedar notes are underpinning by a tremendous morello cherry nose. Opens over the hour and a half this is in the decanter but no huge changes. Though it is quite clearly in a different phase of its life, the big, brash style is reminiscent of the 86. For all that on the nose, it's silk across the palate.
This is very good, but it doesn't quite rival the 59 or 55 for complexity and I like my old Lafites to be complex. Smelling them should be like getting wrapped up in a good book you can't put down. This is about on par with the 45, really. From half, albeit a half from John Avery's personal cellar with a very top shoulder and great cork. Are the 750s so different? I suppose I'll have to find another. No rush as it's in no danger of dying out, whatsoever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ahhh... the legendary 1953 Chateau Lafite! The birth of my first child "marc'ed" the perfect occasion to open my own father's vintage year. One of the problems I have with any legendary wine is that I start at 100pts and find myself subtracting from there. The reason this self realization is important is that I find myself walking away being slightly disappointed instead of celebrating a wine such as a 53 Lafite.
Is this a great wine? Absolutely. The nose was an almost sappy, malty consistency with notes of cedar, red fruits & cherry. The palate shows light black cherry, leather with a strong pencil shavings all the way to the back of the throat. It was an extraordinary wine. The structure was intact until the last sip.
But why not 100 points?
It just lacked the character and complexity of the greats. Is it fading? Perhaps- but in fairness the finish lasted over 30 seconds. In summation, I would not chase the 1953 Lafite at current spot prices but would gladly grab a glass if you are pouring!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My second perfect bottle of this wine from the same source and part of what was quite possibly the best two-bottle flight of my life ('59 Lafite). Incredible nose of lead pencil, soy sauce, Asian spices and violets. On the palate it is perfectly mature yet still succulent and rich showing that classic graphite flavor along with notes of tobacco and dark spice. Never have I quite had a wine that was so elegant and complex on the finish. Simply stunning once again... At Latour Crystal Springs 2/1/17
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind, this wine had a deep red center with orange/tan rims. The medium+ intensity nose put forth sauteed cherries, brown spices, blackberries, soil, and a touch of oxidation.
This wine was pretty much the antithesis of my prior experience with this wine (and I am confident both bottles were authentic). In the mouth, it was ripe and round with rounded tannin and solid acidity. The texture was much thicker than before. Moreover, it had some complexity but none of the intense, mineral infused flavors of the last bottle.
It appears this vintage has some bottle variation. In any event, all the bottles I have had appear to suggest drinking sooner rather than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekend with Eddie - Part 2 (Bouley, NYC): Captivating nose displaying subtle but decadent red fruits, plum and cherry, caramel that you find in old clarets that adds the sweetness to overall impression, strong note of Lafite lead pencil, cedar, sautéed cep, smoke and tree bark. Perfectly harmonious palate, extremely silky, slightly lean, subtle sweet slightly dry red fruits, strong presence of mineral a la lead pencil, soft and warm, fully resolved tannins and seamless finish with a hint of cedar as the end note. This is a beautiful claret that is quite soft and warm at this stage. Quite Burgundian but strong presence of lead pencil and cedar clearly tell the origin. I would love to share a bottle with a friend. It provides a nice contrast to the 61 Latour which is a tour de force.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We drank two bottles this evening: the 1953 LR and a 1962 Yquem. It was a wonderful evening, but the wines were a bit under expectations even though both bottles were perfectly kept ever since production. We decanted the LR about an hour ahead of diner. It still took it about three more hours to reach the typical flavors of LR. I kept about a glass of it in the decanter for the next day and this 17 hours aerated glass of LR was somehow more interesting than when just opened. The color is magnificent After 1h1/2 in the decanter, the nose is not impressive; subtle would be a euphemism. All tannin is gone, but the wine is a bit too much on the light side. The fruit -cherry- is there, but buried under earth, a mixture of tar and cedar pencil (which will come clear and distinctive after two hours). Also, there is a little acidity that will vanish only after more then an hour. After 3 hours in the decanter, Lafite Rothschild was back. However, it was a bit evanescent, and I wished we had opened this bottle five to ten years ago. In brief: If it's not in your cellar to collect or sell, drink it now, after decanting it for at least 3 hours. And at the current price, don't bother buying it (for drinking I mean) since this money can buy a more enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Night of Old Bordeaux at Latour Restaurant, Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, NJ - well here it is! A perfect bottle of this wine and from the first smell and sip, I knew it was one of the greatest wines I've ever tasted. So much graphite and smoky minerals on the nose and then on the palate, this has reached that perfect point of age where the tannins are gone but there is so much material left that it just slides over the tongue like liquid silk. And there is enough lead pencil flavor to fill an elementary school. There is a velvety sweetness to this wine that is utterly compelling and the finish is so very fine and complex with notes of cedar and more graphite minerals. This is such a graceful and classy wine drunk at it's apogee from a perfect bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Savory and not sweet vanilla, raw coconut, white pepper, an almost dairy creaminess, graphite, pencil shavings, almond milk, sweet cream butter and clear background traces of wood remaining on the nose. A most unusual combination, extremely distinctive, and undeniably attractive despite its peculiarity. A darker palate but still very light in feel with black cherry, dark earth, tar, pencil shavings and a very very long finish. Extremely smooth in the mouth, this caresses the palate. I can't say that I've ever had an equivalent of this wine as it was almost weightless but entirely of substance. Close to a one hour decant, consumed over the following two hours. 97+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
incredible! from Rob M, recorked magnum. decanted an hour, opened up over 3 hours. cedar fresh cassis incredibly old school charm. amazing depth and story
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Four teeny tiny tastes of this, and no detailed notes, but a great privilege. Took a bit of time to get going- initially a muted nose and a relatively angular taste. By the end of the night, a magical wine. Harmonious and detailed nose. Pretty youthful too. Dense, mouth-filling taste with a wonderful sweetness to it. Endless finish since I swear I can still taste it the next day.
Now I think I understand Lafite. You just need to give it half a century to fill out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I shall refrain from scoring this bottle, as I don't think it was showing very well. Some of the classic Lafite character was there, but the wine showed some signs of oxidation. Texturally this is clearly quite a generous Lafite, and I'd love to encounter a well-stored, correct bottle. But the '53s are quite fragile at this stage and do not respond well to transport or anything but the most careful handling and service.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This attractive looking magnum had a HS fill. The cork came out with only a bit of breakage. The Lafite branding on the cork was very light but discernible.
As expected, this wine had a reddish center and light orange rims. The high intensity nose was fascinating, displaying red fruits, roasted meat, plums, smoked almonds, and some brown spices. It changed with each new pour and was spectacular (100 point level).
The mouth went through a variety of phases. At first it was quite impressive, then it tightened up and became harder to read. After about 2 hours of air it began to show its true personality. The wine was best after 3 hours of decanter time.
Quite light and agile in the mouth, this wine had a ton of flavor, firm but attractive acidity, light rounded tannin, and a very long finish. In the mouth the flavor profile mentioned above was augmented with tea and minerals. The wine's light weight on the palate was juxtaposed to the incredible flavor intensity. The intensity, complexity, and length of this wine were off the charts. Could one have wished for more fruit as well? I think that is a matter of preference. However, there is no doubt this was a spectacular bottle.
It was an amazing experience to drink a wine that is really fully mature. It may well hold this level for 5-10 years, depending on storage, but why wait?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum. Perfectly elegant, beautifully delineated, nicely nuanced, and a wonderful match with the ribeye. Some of the Burgundies were more charming, many of the wines were more youthful, and some were much more concentrated, but the Lafite was probably the wine hitting the perfect pitch that evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
53 Lafite (100 Points), 91 Meo Camuzet Cros Parantoux: The moment the wine hit the glass it was on, practically pushing me back in my seat. I truly was able to smell the wine sitting back as the Sommelier poured it. Total typical Lafite notes I have come to yearn for... Pencil graphite, humidor ceder, and fruit still plentiful. Dazzling arrays of charisma, nuance, complexity, and charm this was almost as perfect as one could ever expect from an older Bordeaux. It finished with authority still sporting that Lafite power though with refinement. An amazing experience and one I will certainly never forget...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent first rate Lafite. Drank with 75&82 LMHB. Complex flavors, very forward sweet going down with a clean rich back end. Very different then 59&82. Lots of time left, don't be afraid to purchase if the price is right. Decant for one hour min.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very traditional claret. Quite fresh even after all this time and nicely mature. From what I read about this there is quite a bit of variation between the different bottlings. I can only judge the bottle we had and it was very good but didn't excite like I thought it would. Still drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mahogany to a pale edge, slightly sweet, blackcurrants, caramel and raisons to the nose; Blackcurrant, caramelised fig and dried prune along with cedar on a lingering finish. Many layers of taste, some we were unable to describe. Unable to tell if it is in decline but would have thought it unlikely to get any better.Tim Martin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The evening after our engagement, Silvia and I shared a sparkling magnum of this terrific wine at Lucas Carton with friends. I had to talk my friend Eric into it (took about 3 seconds). The magnum was in beautiful shape. The wine was more youthful than the 59 Haut Brion Silvia and I had the evening before. Bright, racy, fruit, and spice. Unfortunately we accepted the recommendation of the junior sommelier and followed the Lafite with an ill-advised '75 Mouton, which was hard and unyielding, like getting mugged and thrown to the concrete after spending a jazzy evening at a piano bar. The next day I found and purchased this bottle at a very tiny wine shop off the Place de Madeleine.
We popped the Place de Madeleine bottle in 2003 on my 44th birthday at Cafe Juanita in Kirkland. It was classic old Lafite, more pencil and leather than the racy magnum we had in Paris. Of all the hours I've spent in the quiet corners of Cafe Juanita sipping and sighing with Silvia, these were certainly 3 of the best!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Jim's bottle. Pristine appearance. A terrific bottle for its age. Very faint aroma which did not blossom. Soft. Perfectly balanced but faded. Still, very fine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Richard's bottle. Pale, not brown. Exquisite bouquet of Spring flowers alone for about 15 minutes. Attenuated, drying out. But still a great bottle of wine at the end of its life and a treat to experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Re-corked at Chateau in 1985. Consumed at 40th Birthday Celebration: Longhi’s, Lahaina Maui. Decanted 1hr. Cabernet Sauvignon races out of the glass. Earthy, lead pencil shavings, leather, red cherry, dark raspberry flavors. Medium body long finish. Even after Dinner finished, still fresh like it was just opened.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hugh's bottle. Old orange, almost but not quite brown. Beautiful wine. Extraordinarily sweet. Smooth, luscious, velvety. Fabulous. Epitome of great Lafite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a recorked (1989) half bottle. Muddy tawny old wine color. Faded nose of elegant cedar and flowers. Very light and smooth. Balanced. Little or not tannin. Short finish. Sound but faded.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light color at first which inexplicably darkened in the glass. Petite but pretty bouquet which faded quickly. Light and elegant on the palate, holding for hours. Surely past its very fine best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/4/2024 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
This could be the best 1953 I have ever tasted, as well as competing for being one of the best older vintages of Lafite I have ever tasted! This bottle had everything a great Lafite should have. Soaring, complex, aromatics, elegant, soft, refined, textures, layers of spicy, sweet, vibrant, pure, red fruits, and a seamless finish that did not want to quit. This bottle was simply mesmerizing. If you have the money, and you can find a bottle with good provenance, and you want one of the best, wine-tasting experiences of your life, look no further! Drink from 2024-2033.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/27/2024 - sdr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Whole Lotta Lafite; 1/26/2024-1/27/2024 (Wine Watch, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida): This is what very old claret is supposed to be but rarely is. From a delicate vintage of which Lafite is reputed to be one of the stars. Color as expected for age from a sound bottle - pale tawny, some brown at the meniscus. Gorgeous subtle bouquet of rose and black tea. Not feeble on the palate even if the tertiary flavors of dried fruit demand attention. One of the favorites of the group. A lucky privilege to drink a well preserved bottle of this legend. I might have added a point or two out of respect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2022 - fclarity wrote: 95 Points
Tasted blind, I was told after the fact that this wine had a mid-shoulder fill. The medium intensity nose put forth mocha, cherries, tan spices, and some roasted meat.
In the mouth, this wine was relatively refined with light, integrated taninn, firm acidity, and very good length. It was attractive and had excellent complexity.
This particular bottle seem pretty far along the maturity curve which I will attribute to less than optimal storage. I would say it is a wine that is more susceptible to poor handling, than say, the 61 Latour.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2021 - fclarity wrote: flawed
Tasted blind, I was told this wine had a mid-shoulder fill. While is was not undrinkable, it was clear that it was not what it should be either. There was some high-toned VA and some oxidized flavors the compromised what otherwise might have been attractive characteristics. Thus, I will not rate this wine other than to say it can fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2021 - Boone's Farm Likes this wine: 96 Points
Elegant classic old school Bordeaux
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2021 - Winedad53 wrote:
Knowing the extreme bottle variation among wines of this age, but still disappointed in this bottle. Low shoulder, badly depressed cork despite years in a temperature controlled cellar since purchase from a leading auction house, upon opening this wine was pale, almost clear in color with tons of sediment. After a short decant it composed itself and stepped up nicely in the glass for a fleeting interlude of about an hour, showing black olives, peat and dark earth, but sadly not a classic by any means. NR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2021 - englishman's claret wrote: 100 Points
What makes some wines legendary? In many cases, it is their ability to exemplify an ideal, knitting together the best attributes of a particular vinous category, serving as a reference of completeness, character, and complexity. And the perfume of the 1953 Lafite is simply joyful perfection, celebrating the legacy of aromatic, elegant, lithe claret. The volume and purity of freshly sharpened pencil, cool cassis, fresh cedar, supple leather, unsmoked cigar, and aromatic lavender is mind-boggling. It’s a drink, it’s art, it’s history, it’s philosophy, it’s archetypal Lafite. The palate doesn’t stack up from this bottle, but I’m not sure I care after being given a profound nose — and this from a mid shoulder bottle. Other bottles may boast stronger palates. But smell this wine and you understand what this style of elegant Bordeaux can aspire to. It is a monument.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2019 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine: 96 Points
Smelling this magnificent Bordeaux was nostalgic for me. It took me to my childhood game of playing pencils with my Pentechs! Ahhh - the smell of pencil lead, splintered wood and of course VICTORY!
The legendary 53 Lafite commands serious attention. It is built along the lines of how I imagine the 86 will be at 60+ years. As Lafite Rothschild is known for its elegance and sophistication, this 53 was all that with an additional depth of power. Sweet red fruits, asian spices and classic Pauillac graphite flavor. I really enjoyed this wine and look forward to revisiting it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2019 - hartmarco wrote:
Somehow unbalanced with a too pronounced acidity, also potentially slight off-notes that should not be there.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2019 - G_H wrote:
1950s Bordeaux from Elke (Bad Neuenahr): Cedar, slender and more on the elegant side with a good finish, but a bit too dominant acidity for my taste
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2018 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 95 Points
World's Greatest, Hong Kong - Night II (Garden Suite, Peninsula Hotel): Dark and moody, less projection but detailed. A little more tertiary whereas the ‘55 Haut Brion is forward and showy. Dried berry. On the palate this has great red fruit and is lush relative to the ‘55 Haut Brion. Structure and power. On the nose this has blossomed and is now highly expressive and floral. Very alive and dynamic. The perfume.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2018 - dcwino wrote: flawed
Annual gathering with Chicago winos in Chicago - Burgs, old Bordeauxs, Cult Cabs and SQN (Smyth and The Loyalist - Chicago IL): Oxidized.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: flawed
Wine Dinner Extravaganza (Smyth and The Loyalist - Chicago IL): In 53/62/82/86 vertical. Bottle with very low fill, very low expectations. Opened 20 minutes before serving. DOA.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2018 - fclarity wrote: 95 Points
Tasted blind, this wine had a medium red center with tawny rims. The medium+ intensity nose offered up currants, prunes, tea, toasted wood, cuban cigar, and a hint of menthol.
In the mouth, this wine was rich but had great balance, firm acidity, and excellent length. Despite being open 5+ hours before we started tasting, its flavor profile moved around like a kalidiscope. All of its incarnations were interesting but none of them perfect to my taste.
This bottle was very much like my last bottle of this wine. It was very enjoyable but certainly not going to be getting any better. Enjoy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2018 - englishman's claret wrote: 95 Points
Lafite is renowned for its elegance, but frankly on its account one can tend to forget its depth and drive. This bottle reminds you of it quite forcefully. It plays on strength rather than elegance. A huge nose and though the bouquet is maturing, the malty, cardamom, pencil, and cedar notes are underpinning by a tremendous morello cherry nose. Opens over the hour and a half this is in the decanter but no huge changes. Though it is quite clearly in a different phase of its life, the big, brash style is reminiscent of the 86. For all that on the nose, it's silk across the palate.
This is very good, but it doesn't quite rival the 59 or 55 for complexity and I like my old Lafites to be complex. Smelling them should be like getting wrapped up in a good book you can't put down. This is about on par with the 45, really. From half, albeit a half from John Avery's personal cellar with a very top shoulder and great cork. Are the 750s so different? I suppose I'll have to find another. No rush as it's in no danger of dying out, whatsoever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2018 - englishmen’s claret Likes this wine: 97 Points
Ahhh... the legendary 1953 Chateau Lafite! The birth of my first child "marc'ed" the perfect occasion to open my own father's vintage year. One of the problems I have with any legendary wine is that I start at 100pts and find myself subtracting from there. The reason this self realization is important is that I find myself walking away being slightly disappointed instead of celebrating a wine such as a 53 Lafite.
Is this a great wine? Absolutely. The nose was an almost sappy, malty consistency with notes of cedar, red fruits & cherry. The palate shows light black cherry, leather with a strong pencil shavings all the way to the back of the throat. It was an extraordinary wine. The structure was intact until the last sip.
But why not 100 points?
It just lacked the character and complexity of the greats. Is it fading? Perhaps- but in fairness the finish lasted over 30 seconds. In summation, I would not chase the 1953 Lafite at current spot prices but would gladly grab a glass if you are pouring!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2017 - dream Likes this wine: 100 Points
My second perfect bottle of this wine from the same source and part of what was quite possibly the best two-bottle flight of my life ('59 Lafite). Incredible nose of lead pencil, soy sauce, Asian spices and violets. On the palate it is perfectly mature yet still succulent and rich showing that classic graphite flavor along with notes of tobacco and dark spice. Never have I quite had a wine that was so elegant and complex on the finish. Simply stunning once again... At Latour Crystal Springs 2/1/17
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2016 - fclarity wrote: 95 Points
Tasted blind, this wine had a deep red center with orange/tan rims. The medium+ intensity nose put forth sauteed cherries, brown spices, blackberries, soil, and a touch of oxidation.
This wine was pretty much the antithesis of my prior experience with this wine (and I am confident both bottles were authentic). In the mouth, it was ripe and round with rounded tannin and solid acidity. The texture was much thicker than before. Moreover, it had some complexity but none of the intense, mineral infused flavors of the last bottle.
It appears this vintage has some bottle variation. In any event, all the bottles I have had appear to suggest drinking sooner rather than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2016 - dcwino wrote: 98 Points
Weekend with Eddie - Part 2 (Bouley, NYC): Captivating nose displaying subtle but decadent red fruits, plum and cherry, caramel that you find in old clarets that adds the sweetness to overall impression, strong note of Lafite lead pencil, cedar, sautéed cep, smoke and tree bark. Perfectly harmonious palate, extremely silky, slightly lean, subtle sweet slightly dry red fruits, strong presence of mineral a la lead pencil, soft and warm, fully resolved tannins and seamless finish with a hint of cedar as the end note. This is a beautiful claret that is quite soft and warm at this stage. Quite Burgundian but strong presence of lead pencil and cedar clearly tell the origin. I would love to share a bottle with a friend. It provides a nice contrast to the 61 Latour which is a tour de force.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2016 - Fcapeilleres Likes this wine: 94 Points
We drank two bottles this evening: the 1953 LR and a 1962 Yquem. It was a wonderful evening, but the wines were a bit under expectations even though both bottles were perfectly kept ever since production.
We decanted the LR about an hour ahead of diner. It still took it about three more hours to reach the typical flavors of LR. I kept about a glass of it in the decanter for the next day and this 17 hours aerated glass of LR was somehow more interesting than when just opened.
The color is magnificent
After 1h1/2 in the decanter, the nose is not impressive; subtle would be a euphemism. All tannin is gone, but the wine is a bit too much on the light side. The fruit -cherry- is there, but buried under earth, a mixture of tar and cedar pencil (which will come clear and distinctive after two hours). Also, there is a little acidity that will vanish only after more then an hour.
After 3 hours in the decanter, Lafite Rothschild was back. However, it was a bit evanescent, and I wished we had opened this bottle five to ten years ago.
In brief: If it's not in your cellar to collect or sell, drink it now, after decanting it for at least 3 hours. And at the current price, don't bother buying it (for drinking I mean) since this money can buy a more enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2015 - dream Likes this wine: 100 Points
A Night of Old Bordeaux at Latour Restaurant, Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, NJ - well here it is! A perfect bottle of this wine and from the first smell and sip, I knew it was one of the greatest wines I've ever tasted. So much graphite and smoky minerals on the nose and then on the palate, this has reached that perfect point of age where the tannins are gone but there is so much material left that it just slides over the tongue like liquid silk. And there is enough lead pencil flavor to fill an elementary school. There is a velvety sweetness to this wine that is utterly compelling and the finish is so very fine and complex with notes of cedar and more graphite minerals. This is such a graceful and classy wine drunk at it's apogee from a perfect bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 97 Points
Savory and not sweet vanilla, raw coconut, white pepper, an almost dairy creaminess, graphite, pencil shavings, almond milk, sweet cream butter and clear background traces of wood remaining on the nose. A most unusual combination, extremely distinctive, and undeniably attractive despite its peculiarity. A darker palate but still very light in feel with black cherry, dark earth, tar, pencil shavings and a very very long finish. Extremely smooth in the mouth, this caresses the palate. I can't say that I've ever had an equivalent of this wine as it was almost weightless but entirely of substance. Close to a one hour decant, consumed over the following two hours. 97+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2015 - jmoon Likes this wine: 98 Points
incredible! from Rob M, recorked magnum. decanted an hour, opened up over 3 hours.
cedar fresh cassis incredibly old school charm. amazing depth and story
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2014 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Astounding nose! Luxurious in the mouth, just pure silk. Tart fruit. Honestly wasn't that impressed by the finish...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2014 - NewFrenchClaret Likes this wine: 98 Points
Four teeny tiny tastes of this, and no detailed notes, but a great privilege. Took a bit of time to get going- initially a muted nose and a relatively angular taste. By the end of the night, a magical wine. Harmonious and detailed nose. Pretty youthful too. Dense, mouth-filling taste with a wonderful sweetness to it. Endless finish since I swear I can still taste it the next day.
Now I think I understand Lafite. You just need to give it half a century to fill out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2014 - William Kelley wrote:
I shall refrain from scoring this bottle, as I don't think it was showing very well. Some of the classic Lafite character was there, but the wine showed some signs of oxidation. Texturally this is clearly quite a generous Lafite, and I'd love to encounter a well-stored, correct bottle. But the '53s are quite fragile at this stage and do not respond well to transport or anything but the most careful handling and service.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2013 - ralevine wrote: 97 Points
OMG
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2013 - fclarity wrote: 97 Points
This attractive looking magnum had a HS fill. The cork came out with only a bit of breakage. The Lafite branding on the cork was very light but discernible.
As expected, this wine had a reddish center and light orange rims. The high intensity nose was fascinating, displaying red fruits, roasted meat, plums, smoked almonds, and some brown spices. It changed with each new pour and was spectacular (100 point level).
The mouth went through a variety of phases. At first it was quite impressive, then it tightened up and became harder to read. After about 2 hours of air it began to show its true personality. The wine was best after 3 hours of decanter time.
Quite light and agile in the mouth, this wine had a ton of flavor, firm but attractive acidity, light rounded tannin, and a very long finish. In the mouth the flavor profile mentioned above was augmented with tea and minerals. The wine's light weight on the palate was juxtaposed to the incredible flavor intensity. The intensity, complexity, and length of this wine were off the charts. Could one have wished for more fruit as well? I think that is a matter of preference. However, there is no doubt this was a spectacular bottle.
It was an amazing experience to drink a wine that is really fully mature. It may well hold this level for 5-10 years, depending on storage, but why wait?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2010 - Pacalet wrote: 91 Points
Nose of licorice, ink and leather, palate very sweet with chalk, very balanced and still got life ahead, showing very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2008 - Totatalitarian wrote:
From magnum. Perfectly elegant, beautifully delineated, nicely nuanced, and a wonderful match with the ribeye. Some of the Burgundies were more charming, many of the wines were more youthful, and some were much more concentrated, but the Lafite was probably the wine hitting the perfect pitch that evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2007 - Griffin wrote:
Drank 14-Oct-2003
The smell of leather and the taste of tea leaves were most memorable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2007 - jamiekutch wrote: 100 Points
53 Lafite (100 Points), 91 Meo Camuzet Cros Parantoux: The moment the wine hit the glass it was on, practically pushing me back in my seat. I truly was able to smell the wine sitting back as the Sommelier poured it. Total typical Lafite notes I have come to yearn for... Pencil graphite, humidor ceder, and fruit still plentiful. Dazzling arrays of charisma, nuance, complexity, and charm this was almost as perfect as one could ever expect from an older Bordeaux. It finished with authority still sporting that Lafite power though with refinement. An amazing experience and one I will certainly never forget...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2007 - 83AJ wrote: 100 Points
Excellent first rate Lafite. Drank with 75&82 LMHB. Complex flavors, very forward sweet going down with a clean rich back end. Very different then 59&82. Lots of time left, don't be afraid to purchase if the price is right. Decant for one hour min.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2006 - AJ72 wrote: 91 Points
A very traditional claret. Quite fresh even after all this time and nicely mature. From what I read about this there is quite a bit of variation between the different bottlings. I can only judge the bottle we had and it was very good but didn't excite like I thought it would. Still drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2005 - timhg wrote:
Mahogany to a pale edge, slightly sweet, blackcurrants, caramel and raisons to the nose; Blackcurrant, caramelised fig and dried prune along with cedar on a lingering finish. Many layers of taste, some we were unable to describe. Unable to tell if it is in decline but would have thought it unlikely to get any better.Tim Martin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2003 - JeffO wrote: 100 Points
The evening after our engagement, Silvia and I shared a sparkling magnum of this terrific wine at Lucas Carton with friends. I had to talk my friend Eric into it (took about 3 seconds). The magnum was in beautiful shape. The wine was more youthful than the 59 Haut Brion Silvia and I had the evening before. Bright, racy, fruit, and spice. Unfortunately we accepted the recommendation of the junior sommelier and followed the Lafite with an ill-advised '75 Mouton, which was hard and unyielding, like getting mugged and thrown to the concrete after spending a jazzy evening at a piano bar. The next day I found and purchased this bottle at a very tiny wine shop off the Place de Madeleine.
We popped the Place de Madeleine bottle in 2003 on my 44th birthday at Cafe Juanita in Kirkland. It was classic old Lafite, more pencil and leather than the racy magnum we had in Paris. Of all the hours I've spent in the quiet corners of Cafe Juanita sipping and sighing with Silvia, these were certainly 3 of the best!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2000 - sdr Likes this wine: 88 Points
Jim's bottle. Pristine appearance. A terrific bottle for its age. Very faint aroma which did not blossom. Soft. Perfectly balanced but faded. Still, very fine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/1994 - sdr Likes this wine: 96 Points
Another bottle of Richard's and even better. Tawny. Old Bordeaux vanilla flavors. Sweet, delicious, soft. A little over mature but great class.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/1994 - sdr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Richard's bottle. Pale, not brown. Exquisite bouquet of Spring flowers alone for about 15 minutes. Attenuated, drying out. But still a great bottle of wine at the end of its life and a treat to experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/1993 - whiffle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Re-corked at Chateau in 1985. Consumed at 40th Birthday Celebration: Longhi’s, Lahaina Maui. Decanted 1hr. Cabernet Sauvignon races out of the glass. Earthy, lead pencil shavings, leather, red cherry, dark raspberry flavors. Medium body long finish. Even after Dinner finished, still fresh like it was just opened.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/1992 - sdr Likes this wine: 98 Points
Hugh's bottle. Old orange, almost but not quite brown. Beautiful wine. Extraordinarily sweet. Smooth, luscious, velvety. Fabulous. Epitome of great Lafite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/1990 - sdr wrote: 85 Points
From a recorked (1989) half bottle. Muddy tawny old wine color. Faded nose of elegant cedar and flowers. Very light and smooth. Balanced. Little or not tannin. Short finish. Sound but faded.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/1986 - sdr Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light color at first which inexplicably darkened in the glass. Petite but pretty bouquet which faded quickly. Light and elegant on the palate, holding for hours. Surely past its very fine best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment