Chateau Lafite Rothschild

94/100 vinous The 1983 Lafite-Rothschild is a vintage that I used to taste regularly, but now, not for a few years. I love it whilst my neighbor is less impressed, that being Saskia de Rothschild. What a lovely Lafite! I exclaim trying to persuade her and failing miserably. Blackberry, melted tar, a touch of truffle mixed with dried blood, secondary aromas lending real complexity and personality. The palate is underpinned by a crisp line of acidity, touches of tobacco, morels and smoke emerging towards the second half. I am impressed by its energy after 35-years and the persistence on the finish. It always was one of the best First Growth behind Château Margaux and I suspect that remains the case. Tasted at the Lafite-Rothschild 150th anniversary dinner at the estate. (Neal Martin, vinous) 94/100 PP The 1983 Lafite has come out of its dumb, monolithic stage and has begun to reveal the classic mineral, lead pencil, cedary perfume it is renowned for possessing. A forceful wine for Lafite, it offers medium to full body and good underlying structure, particularly for a 1983. Deeper and more compelling at age ten than it has been in the past, it should prove to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage. This terrific effort should reach its peak by the turn of the century and last at least 25-30 years. (Robert M. Parker, Jr., robertparker.com) 1er cru classé, Pauillac Die Qualität des Château Lafite Rothschild bedarf keiner näheren Vorstellung. Schon 1815 verlieh ihm Abraham Lawton höchste Ehren: „Er besitzt am meisten Eleganz und Delikatesse und hat den feinsten Körper der drei premiers crus – eine Klassifizierung, die 1855 bestätigt wird. Um den alle Jahrgänge übergreifenden Charakter des Weines zu beschreiben, möchten wir das Wort eines versierten Weinliebhabers zitieren: „Ganz gleich welcher, alle Weine des Château Lafite duften nach Mandel und Veilchen!“ Chateau Lafite Rothschild, das berühmteste aller Bordeaux-Weingüter, und sein Wein mit dem eleganten, kleinformatigen und vornehm zurückhaltenden Etikett ist zu einem Synonym für Reichtum, Ansehen, Achtung vor historischer Würde und bemerkenswert langlebige Weine geworden. (Robert M. Parker , Jr.)
18-20 Monate in 100% neuen Barriques, Schönung, keine Filtration
Bewertung robertparker.com: 94/100, Bewertung Jahrgang: ****/*****, Bewertung A.Galloni, vinous.com: 94/100