Wine Advisor
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1979
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Description
Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. It is considered by some to be the best wine to come out of Bordeaux. In 1815, Guillaume Lawton said of Château Lafite, “I consider it to be the the most elegant and delicate, with the finest substance of the three (Premier Crus). The location of its vines is one of the finest in the Médoc”. In 1855 the Château was ranked as a Premier Grand Cru in the famous classification that was prepared for the Universal Exhibition of that year. Lafite is also known as the ‘King’s wine’, after being introduced to the Court at Versailles by Maréchal Richelieu.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This wine performed less impressively than I would have hoped and not nearly as well as I have rated it in the past. The wine reveals high acidity, a light perfume of fruit and oak, little complexity, some compactness, and an angular finish. High acidity is normal in 1979, but the depth and complexity of previous bottles was not apparent. Perhaps the wine is in an unflattering stage, but it was noticeably less impressive, as well as short, both discouraging signs. Those who own it may want to try a bottle, but be prepared to wait another 3-6 years to see if the wine will fill out and blossom. Last tasted, 6/93.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I overrated this wine when it was young, and have not been as pleased with its evolution in the bottle. The wine has retained a cool climate high acidity, giving it a more compressed personality than I had envisioned. The color remains a dark ruby/garnet, but the nose has taken on a more vegetal, earthy note to go along with the new oak and sweet red and black currant personality. The wine's crisp acidity keeps its tannic edge aggressive. There is already some amber at the edge of the wine's color. Anticipated maturity: Now-2012. Last tasted 10/97
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