Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1995

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted several times: still closed when tasted blind in 2001, feminine in 2003 when it was just lacking that degree of complexity for a truly great Lafite. Then at the CECWINE vertical in September 2004. A moderate ruby hue. Very fresh, floral nose. Quite minerally, becoming dominated by cassis with aeration with a touch of mocha. The palate is feminine, elegant with a citrus freshness and good acidity. Medium-bodied. Light-weight for a First Growth and lacking persistency and length on the finish. A featherweight Lafite. Finally at the Lafite vertical in December 2005. A very deep garnet core. The nose is still very masculine: pencil lead, blackberry, black cherry and a touch of smoke. Much more typicity than the 2000. The palate has good structure, excellent acidity. Very minerally, liquorice and burnt toast. Very fine definition and good weight. Superb balance and poise. This is an archetypal Lafite this is just getting into its stride. Fresh, crisp finish with a touch of green pepper from the Cabernet Franc.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Because Lafite-Rothschild (1) tends to lack the weight of many wines of the northern Medoc, and (2) is never a flashy, ostentatious style of wine, it is often more difficult to evaluate when young than some of its neighbors. This dark purple-colored 1995 displays the quintessentially elegant Lafite style in both the aromatics and flavors. Subtle lead pencil, blackcurrant, and cedary notes emerge from the wine's bouquet with coaxing. In the mouth, it is beautifully knit, medium-bodied, suave, and elegant, with no intention of being flamboyant and/or over-sized. This is a textbook, classic Lafite-Rothschild that should reward 10-20 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

This dark purple-colored 1995 displays the quintessentially elegant Lafite style in both the aromatics and flavors. Subtle lead pencil, black currant, and cedary notes emerge from the wine's bouquet with coaxing. In the mouth, it is beautifully knit, medium-bodied, suave, and elegant, with no intention of being flamboyant and/or over-sized. This is a textbook, classic Lafite-Rothschild that should reward 10-20 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035. Last tasted 1/97

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 1995 Lafite-Rothschild, a more typical blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc, harvested between September 18 and October 1, looks to be a great Lafite in the making. Only a minuscule 30% of the harvest was chosen for Lafite-Rothschild. For the first time, Lafite did three separate passes through their vineyards, harvesting only the most mature grapes, a la the practice followed in Barsac and Sauternes to make sweet wine. The 1995 Lafite displays outstanding color saturation, a blossoming, elegant, intense nose of smoke, roasted nuts, spices, and red and blackcurrants. The wine reveals sweetness and outstanding richness, as well as Lafite's remarkable ethereal weightlessness and finesse, smooth tannin, and exceptional length. Different from anything else I tasted in Pauillac, it is a compellingly elegant example of Lafite. Given the wine's intensity and tannin (there is no heaviness or bitterness), it will require a decade of cellaring and will keep for 30-35 years. I am very high on this wine and feel it will easily be the qualitative equivalent of Lafite's 1990, 1989, and 1988. All of the wines in this segment were tasted between March 19 and March 28 in Bordeaux. Most of the important wines from both the 1994 and 1995 vintages were tasted three separate times during my ten-day stay in Bordeaux.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 1995 Lafite-Rothschild (only one-third of the harvest made it into the final blend) is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. The wine was showing spectacularly well when I tasted it in November, 1997. It exhibits a dark ruby purple color, and a sweet, powdered mineral, smoky, weedy cassis-scented nose. Beautiful sweetness of fruit is present in this medium-bodied, tightly-knit, but gloriously pure, well-delineated Lafite. The 1995 is not as powerful or as massive as the 1996, but it is beautifully made with outstanding credentials, in addition to remarkable promise. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2028.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Dark ruby-red. Sappy, expressive aromas of cherry, plum, minerals, woodsmoke and game, plus an exotic suggestion of baked apple. Rather subtle on the attack, then quickly expands to fill the mouth. A big, deep, very rich vintage for Lafite, unusually generous at this early stage and extremely long on the aftertaste. But went into a shell with aeration, and showed a hint of tobacco leaf vegetility. Finishing notes of coconut, woodsmoke and tobacco add flavor interest.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Excellent saturated deep color. Brooding, multidimensional black fruit nose has an extraordinary floral/herbal scent. Very firm and structured, but creamy in the middle, with uncanny inner-mouth perfume. Fairly large-scaled and a wine of solid structure, but less austere than in most vintages. Wonderfully complex, tannic finish promises a long, positive evolution. A great early showing for Lafite; this makes the '94 seems lean and oaky in comparison. A compelling barrel sample.