Beschreibung:

Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1996
1 dozen bottles per lot
CHATEAU LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD Château Lafite-Rothschild is the largest of the celebrated first-growths, is of very ancient renown. It occupies the finest crests in Pauillac. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Seigneurs of Lafite were the high administrators of justice in the country. It was through the officers of their choice that they exercised this right until 1789. The great qualities shown by their wines earned them the sobriquet "Princes of Vines." Lafite was very fashionable at the king's table in the time of Louis XV. It had a place of honor at the banquets held by Marshal de Richelieu and Madame de Pompadour always poured some at her little suppers. After having been the property of the great Ségur family, it belonged to Mr. de Prichard, President of the Parliament of Guienne, until the end of the 18th century. Unfortunately, he was not spared by the upheaval of the revolution and was guillotined in Paris on June 30, 1794. At this point Lafite became the property of the State, eventually it was acquired by a Dutchman, Vanderberghes and then by the English banker Sir Samuel Scott In 1868, it was purchased by Baron James de Rothschild and still belongs to his heirs. The Baron's purchase of Lafite came late in his life as he was 76 years old. By now many are aware of Lafite's legendary pre-phylloxera vintages 1864, Lord Roseberry's 1865, the Glamis Castle's 1870 and the Woodperry House's 1874. Then of course there are the great Lafite mid-century vintages of our time 1945, 1947, 1949, 1959 and 1966. It is said that the bouquet of Lafite is very suave and of incomparable delicacy; its savour brings together at the same time the taste of almonds and the scent of violets without being possible to distinguish whether the one dominates the other. Lafite is simply a study in balance, poise and restraint. Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1996 Pauillac, 1er cru classé In original wooden case "Tasted three times since bottling, 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 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. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. The wine of the vintage?" Robert Parker Wine Advocate #122 (April 1999) 1 dozen bottles per lot