Château Lafite-Rothschild

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/28/2005

Wonderfrul berry and tobacco character, with chocolate and cedar. Full-bodied, yet elegant and silky. Beautifully long. This is always outstanding, but sometimes overlooked. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Drink now.

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1997

As I suspected, the 1989 and 1990 vintages of Lafite-Rothschild have gone dormant. Both wines were among the more closed, backward examples in my blind tasting. The 1989 Lafite is also outstanding, but closed, with the tannin more elevated, and the wine so stubbornly reticent as to make evaluation almost impossible. Lafite's 1989 was far more easy to taste and understand several years ago. It appears to have gone completely to sleep. This medium ruby-colored, medium-bodied wine reveals new oak in the nose, and a spicy finish. It is a quintessentially elegant, restrained, understated style of Lafite. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

Wine Advocate

/ 100

byRobert Parkerthe10/1/1994

A Possible Legend Candidate The 1989 is an interesting prospect.

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/1/1993

The medium to dark ruby-colored 1989 is forward, with the tell-tale fragrance of lead pencils, cedar, and curranty fruit. Its high glycerin and abundant alcohol content reveal the vintage character. The wine has firmed up since bottling and is much less flattering to taste. It is medium-bodied and expansive, with rich fruit, considerable elegance and focus, and a long, full finish loaded with sweet tannin. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2020. Last tasted, 6/93.

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/1/1993

The forward 1989 offers the tell-tale fragrance of lead pencils, cedar, and curranty fruit, and, for Lafite, unusually high glycerin and alcohol. The wine is easy to taste and appreciate, as it is rich, medium-bodied, expansive, and more supple and obvious than usual. Speculating when it might be in full blossom is no easy chore given its sexy, sensual yet light style. It is somewhere between the 1953 and 1976 in stylistic terms. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2020.

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/1/1992

Even if the 1989 is not as perfect as the 1982, or as potentially long-lived as the 1986 and 1988, it is still a top Lafite. The wine is forward, with the tell-tale fragrance of lead pencils, cedar, and curranty fruit. Because of its high glycerin and abundant alcohol content, the hot, early harvest has clearly stamped its imprint. The wine is almost too easy to taste and appreciate, as it is rich, medium-bodied, expansive, and more supple and obvious than usual. However, given past performances, I suspect this wine will close up soon. Speculating when it might be in full blossom is no easy chore given its sexy, sensual yet light style. It is somewhere between the 1953 and 1976 in stylistic terms, but clearly less concentrated than either of these wines. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2020. Tasted nine times.