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Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting

Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Tasted January 10, 2019 by DrinkBordeaux with 316 views

Introduction

A very consistent tasting. No wine stood out above the others. Many were very good, but there was no blockbuster on this evening. Then again, other than the flawed bottles, there were no disappointing wines either.

Flight 1 (12 notes)

White - Sparkling
2004 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut France, Champagne
94 points
Seemed to be better than it was a year ago. Still has a lot of apple, pear, and lovely brioche. The acidity just seems to be in a better spot, and the wine has lost a little of its harshness. Will be interesting to see how this evolves relative to the 2002.
Red
1959 Château Lafite Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
flawed
Mid shoulder fill. Amber-brown color. Unfortunately, the wine was tired and oxidized. Nose of stewed dark fruit, black olive, cashew, and soy. Better on the palate. Not fair to rate due to it being flawed.
Red
1959 Château Margaux France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
94 points
Unlike the oxidized 59 Lafite, this was a very good bottle. Medium ruby color, with lightened edges. It had a pretty, floral nose, with plum, sous bois, and rose petals. Elegant and with medium weight on the palate. Started to get a bit tired after two hours, but it was an excellent wine nonetheless.
Red
1964 Carruades de Lafite France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
flawed
Flawed by TCA
Red
1964 Château Lafite Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
92 points
Really nice. A light ruby color. Aromas of black currant, smoke, violets, and anise. Had a soft, elegant mouthfeel. My only knock on it was its slightly drying finish. Elevated acidity.
Red
1970 Château Lafite Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
94 points
Very consistent with previous bottles. A light salmon color and aromas of red plum, scuppernong, barnyard, iron, and truffle. I have always enjoyed this wine more than the critics did. Really elegant on the palate. A charmer that will never blow you away, but it's a memorable wine for me, due to its uniqueness.
Red
1971 Château Lafite Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
95 points
Surprisingly, one of my favorite wines of the evening. Similar color to the 1970, light and Burgundian. Aromas of red plum, truffle, tobacco, smoke, and brown spices. Interesting flavors on the palate. Lots of bright red fruits. Medium-plus length finish. Tannins essentially resolved and acidity was at a good level. The surprise of the tasting.
Red
1982 Château Lafite Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
94 points
Why am I never blown away by the 1982 Lafite? Yes, it's a really good wine, but I suppose I expect more from a wine of this pedigree. Still with a dark color. Dark plum, anise, spice, tobacco, smoke, and dark chocolate on the nose. Layered on the palate, with lots of life. Good length on the finish.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1982 Château Margaux France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
flawed
Oxidized. Lots of prune and cheese.
Red
1985 Château Lafite Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
94 points
Deep, dark ruby color. A really nice balance of fruit and earthiness. It showed no tiring, and it's definitely at its peak. Not as ripe as the 1990, but had a really nice earthy edge to it. Lots of tobacco. Gained weight throughout the night. A really nice wine in a good spot.
2 people found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
1990 Château Lafite Rothschild France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
96 points
One of the best bottles of 1990 Lafite that I can recall. Dark ruby color. A nose of black currant, blackberry, tobacco, eucalyptus, and dark chocolate. Even better on the palate. Very complex and fantastic concentration. Seemed to improve throughout the evening. This is getting close to its peak, but will remain there for a very long time.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Château Rieussec France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
92 points
Pineapple, apricot, and brioche on the nose. Good sweetness on the palate, but not overly so. Still needs a few years for the acidity to catch up.
3 people found this helpful Comment
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