Wine Advisor
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982
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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.
I have rated this wine as high as 100 and as low as 95, but it remains a strong candidate for perfection. The wine closed down completely after bottling, opening in the mid to late-eighties to reveal phenomenal richness and the essence of the Lafite-Rothschild style. It has recently shut down again and appears to need another 10-15 years of cellaring. The color is among the most saturated and opaque of any Lafite-Rothschild I have seen. The bouquet, explosive several years ago, now appears to be tight, with only hints of the lead pencil and mineral Lafite fragrance. The super-rich, cedary, berry-scented fruit is noticeable. Full-bodied, with more unctuosity than normal, as well as high tannins, this extraordinary Lafite should develop along the lines of the great 1959. In size it resembles that vintage more than any other. Do not touch a bottle before the turn of the century; it should last for 40-50 years into the next millennium. Last tasted, 6/93.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1982 Lafite possesses a dark, dense ruby/purple color with only a subtle lightening at the rim. Spectacular aromatics offer jammy cherry and black fruits intertwined with lead pencil, mineral, and smoky wood scents. Powerful for a Lafite, this wine unfolds to reveal extraordinary richness, purity, and overall symmetry in addition to stunning flavor depth and persistence. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Plenty of tannin remains, and the wine displays a vibrancy and youthfulness that belie its 18 years of age. The modern day equivalent of Lafite-Rothschild's immortal 1959, the 1982 will enjoy another 30-70 years of life! An amazing achievement! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2070.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This is a denser version of the 1990 that stylistically reminds me of what the young 1959 probably tasted like. Still backward with a deep ruby/plum color revealing only a touch of lightening at the edge, the wine offers up an extraordinary nose of caramelized herbs, smoke, cedar, pen ink, black currants, and earth. The gorgeous aromatics are followed by a full-bodied, plump, rich, fleshy wine with low acidity. With 6-8 hours decanting in a closed decanter, it will offer beautiful drinking, but it needs another 5-8 years to reach full maturity. It is capable of lasting 50-60 years. This classic Lafite is not as fat and concentrated as the 1982 Latour, nor as complex or concentrated as the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but it is a winner all the same. Release price: ($350.00/case)
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Still extraordinary backward and youthful, this large-scaled (massive by Lafite's standards) wine should prove to be the greatest Lafite made after the 1953 and 1959. It continues to offer an exceptionally intense, compelling bouquet of herbs, blackcurrants, vanilla, lead pencil, and cedar. The wine reveals considerable tannin, as well as amazing, atypical power and concentration for Lafite. The hallmark elegance of this wine has not been compromised because of the vintage's tendency to turn out powerful and unctuously-textured, thick, juicy wines. Rich, full, and still youthful and unyielding, this should prove to be a fabulous Lafite-Rothschild - but only for those readers prepared to wait until 2003-2005 . It should easily last through the first three decades of the next century. A potential 100-point wine! Tasted 11 times since bottling with consistent notes.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted three times, the first at the MW Lafite vertical, the bottle direct from the chateau in January 2003. A faint tawny rim, the nose with stunning focus (figs, plums and dried leaves.) The palate is just getting into its stride: supreme balance and smooth tannins, though less opulent than the 96. Like a ballerina! Perfect! In my opinion, less ostentatious than Mouton - and better. This bottle would score 100. A more subdued bottle at the Bordeaux Index lunch, perhaps lacking time in a decanter. Then at the FWE Lafite vertical in December 2005. A deep garnet core with deep brick rim. A very intense nose with a bouquet of blackberry, pencil-lead, cigar-box, black truffle and minerals. The full-bodied palate is very well-balanced, a very fine grainy texture with fine acidity. Sturdy tannins, but there are layers of fruit to back it up.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasted 8 Times Since Bottling With Inconsistent Notes I have rated the 1982 Lafite-Rothschild as high as 100 and as low as 95, but it remains a strong candidate for perfection. The wine closed down completely after bottling, opening in the mid to late-eighties to reveal phenomenal richness and the essence of the Lafite-Rothschild style. It has recently shut down again and appears to need another 10-15 years of cellaring. The color is among the most saturated and opaque of any Lafite-Rothschild I have seen. The bouquet, explosive several years ago, now appears to be tight, with only hints of the lead pencil and mineral Lafite fragrance. The super-rich, cedary, berry-scented fruit is noticeable. Full-bodied, with more unctuosity than normal, as well as high tannins, this extraordinary Lafite should develop along the lines of the great 1959. In size it resembles that vintage more than any other. Do not touch a bottle before the turn of the century; it should last for 40-50 years into the next millennium.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 1982 Lafite Rothschild is at the peak of its powers today, and the two bottles I drank this year were both exceptional. Wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet red berries and blackcurrants mingled with notions of cedar chest, cigar box, camphor and dried flowers, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, with an effortlessly elegant, harmonious profile and a long, fragrant finish. While this is far from being the most powerful Médoc of the vintage, it is among the most pleasurable.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, this bottle had been purchased en primeur for the princely sum of £240/case. It is a truly great 1982. It has an entrancing nose of graphite, minerals and dark fruit that have incredible focus and delineation, developing further pencil-lead aromas with continued aeration. The palate is supremely well balanced in a way that reminds me of the spectacular 1959. The tannins are perhaps even finer than Latour 1982 with an understated, youthful finish that displays perfect acidity. The harmony, the cohesion is utterly convincing here. Startling! Tasted April 2012.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. This is the second time I have tasted the Lafite ’82 this year and both bottles have been exemplary. Here it has a brilliantly defined nose of black fruit, graphite and limestone that has an electrifying intensity – a brightness undimmed over three decades. The palate displays outstanding balance, a little more feminine than Latour and quintessentially “Lafite” rather than “1982”. Fleshy and opulent towards the finish, yet not flamboyant or as extrovert as Mouton, this is just a fabulous Lafite that should plateau for many years. Tasted November 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Still extraordinarily backward and youthful, this large-scaled (massive by Lafite's standards) wine should prove to be the greatest Lafite made after the 1953 and 1959. It continues to offer an exceptionally intense, compelling bouquet of herbs, black currants, vanilla, lead pencil, and cedar. The wine reveals considerable tannin, as well as amazing, atypical power and concentration for Lafite. The hallmark elegance of this wine has not been compromised because of the vintage's tendency to turn out powerful and unctuously-textured, thick, juicy wines. Rich, full, and still youthful and unyielding, this should prove to be a fabulous Lafite-Rothschild - but only for those readers prepared to wait until 2003-2005. It should easily last through the first three decades of the next century. A potential 100-point wine! Last tasted 9/95
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