1 bottle per lot
Details
LAFITE-ROTHSCHIILD
The name Lafite comes from the Gascon language term "la hite", which means "hillock". The estate is situated at the northern end of Pauillac, close to Cos d'Estournel which is just over the border in St.-Estephe. The vineyard consists of three major areas: the hillsides around the Château, the adjacent Carruades plateau to the west, and 4.5 hectares in neighboring Saint Estephe (which is entitled to the Pauillac appellation).
Of the many vintages offered here, standouts include 1959, which Michael Broadbent has called "[o]ne of the best-ever Lafites," as well as the milestone 1982. Of the younger wines, 1996 will go down as a classic vintage on the left bank and the wines are just approaching a lovely drinking plateau. The conditions, according to Michael Broadbent:
"First, the vital (growing) statistics: the occasional bouts of frost in February and March were too early to do any damage though the bud break was delayed until mid-April. The all important flowering was quick and even, finished by the 20th day of a very hot June. It continued warm until August which started cool but ended with hot sun and cold nights. High expectations were initially dampened, pre-harvest rain affecting the early ripening Merlots which diluted and reduced the crop size in Pomerol and St. Emilion. The Médoc fared better with roughly half the rainfall, though towards the end of the September, it rained again. The late-picked Cabernets were of high quality resulting in rich fairing concentrated wines. This vintage is worth watching."
Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1934
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Level: top shoulder; embossed lead capsule torn at top, believed reconditioned
1 bottle per lot
The name Lafite comes from the Gascon language term "la hite", which means "hillock". The estate is situated at the northern end of Pauillac, close to Cos d'Estournel which is just over the border in St.-Estephe. The vineyard consists of three major areas: the hillsides around the Château, the adjacent Carruades plateau to the west, and 4.5 hectares in neighboring Saint Estephe (which is entitled to the Pauillac appellation).
Of the many vintages offered here, standouts include 1959, which Michael Broadbent has called "[o]ne of the best-ever Lafites," as well as the milestone 1982. Of the younger wines, 1996 will go down as a classic vintage on the left bank and the wines are just approaching a lovely drinking plateau. The conditions, according to Michael Broadbent:
"First, the vital (growing) statistics: the occasional bouts of frost in February and March were too early to do any damage though the bud break was delayed until mid-April. The all important flowering was quick and even, finished by the 20th day of a very hot June. It continued warm until August which started cool but ended with hot sun and cold nights. High expectations were initially dampened, pre-harvest rain affecting the early ripening Merlots which diluted and reduced the crop size in Pomerol and St. Emilion. The Médoc fared better with roughly half the rainfall, though towards the end of the September, it rained again. The late-picked Cabernets were of high quality resulting in rich fairing concentrated wines. This vintage is worth watching."
Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1934
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Level: top shoulder; embossed lead capsule torn at top, believed reconditioned
1 bottle per lot