Château Lafite Rothschild

Wine Advocate

100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/1999

Tasted three times since bottling, the 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38% of the crop was deemed grand enough to be put into the final blend, which is atypically high in Cabernet Sauvignon (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot). This massive wine may be the biggest, largest-scaled Lafite I have ever tasted. It will require many years to come around, so I suspect all of us past the age of fifty might want to give serious consideration as to whether we should be laying away multiple cases of this wine. It is also the first Lafite-Rothschild to be put into a new engraved bottle (designed to prevent fraudulent imitations). The wine exhibits a thick-looking, ruby/purple color, and a knock-out nose of lead pencil, minerals, flowers, and black currant scents. Extremely powerful and full-bodied, with remarkable complexity for such a young wine, this huge Lafite is oozing with extract and richness, yet has managed to preserve its quintessentially elegant personality. This wine is even richer than it was prior to bottling. It should unquestionably last for 40-50 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. The wine of the vintage?

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

le 31/01/1999

Impressively dark in color, with mineral, mint and black currant aromas that hint also of spices and cedar. Full-bodied, with very firm tannins and a silky texture, this top Bordeaux goes on and on on the palate. One of the most solid Lafites in recent history. Best after 2002.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

par Robert Parker le 01/02/1998

This is an extraordinary Lafite-Rothschild, possibly the chateau's finest wine since the 1986 and 1982, but it will test purchasers' patience given its backwardness. Only 38% percent of the crop was deemed good enough to use in the final blend, which comprises 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine boasts an opaque purple color, as well as a fabulous nose of tobacco, lead pencil, minerals, and red and black currant fruit. On the palate, this is a powerful Lafite, yet it has not lost any of its quintessential elegant personality. Medium to full-bodied, with outstanding ripeness, layers of fruit, high tannin (sweet rather than astringent), and an exceptionally long, well-balanced finish, this wine will require a minimum of 10-15 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

par Robert Parker le 01/04/1997

Only 38% of the crop was utilized for this wine. It appears to be a quintessentially elegant Lafite, with more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than usual. The final blend contains 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine exhibits a dark purple color, distinctive liquefied mineral, red and blackcurrant, and spicy oak aromas, medium body, fine concentration, superb delineation, and an intellectually challenging aspect to its personality. Neither a blockbuster such as Latour, nor as flamboyant as Mouton-Rothschild can be, Lafite is a stylish, elegant, harmonious wine that is somewhat more powerful and tannic than usual. Patience, a word frequently used with respect to the 1996 northern Medocs, is required! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2035.