Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 1996

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Starting at: $1,300^.00

19 Reviews

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Winery:

Château Lafite Rothschild

Varietal:

Bordeaux Blend

Region:

France > Bordeaux > Haut-médoc

Type:

Red Wine

Color:

Drink Dates:

2014 - 2040

UPC:

 

User Tags:  color descriptors, berry, powerful, black currant, complex, mineral, balance, rich, purple, fresh 

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What to Expect

Arguably the most renowned wines on earth, the classed growths of Bordeaux continue to epitomize the power and complexity Bordeaux blends are capable of. While most wines here are based on Cabernet Sauvignon, both Merlot and Cabernet Franc play important roles in adding layered complexity to the finished wines, and allow winemakers in each commune within the region to use the blend that is best suited to their unique combination of soil and meso-climate. The most famous communes each have their own classic traits with St. Estephe giving full, if rustic wines, from the heavy clay soils, to Paulliac's elegant balance of ripe fruits, minerality and structure to St. Julien's rich blackberry core and supple feel. Moving to the South of the region brings one to Margaux, with its notes of flowers and berries draped over a feminine frame, and then to the Graves region with wines redolent of tobacco, gravel and smoke. To the East lies the famous appellations of St. Emillion, with its wonderfully ripe Cabernet Franc, and Pomerol where Merlot rules the roost and produces deep, plush wines of uncommon refinement.

Winemakers Notes

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 read more...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.    (hide)

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