1 magnum and 4 bottles per lot
Details
Chteau Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1966
Pauillac, 1er cru class. Chteau-bottled
Lightly bin-soiled labels with slight tears. Levels base of neck or better, except one (bottle) very top-shoulder
Tasting note: Many notes. I shall just concentrate on two, a bottle decanted at 6.45pm and first poured at 8.30pm by which time the bouquet had had time to develop. It was already very forthcoming, fragrant, complex, with hints of iron and sage, eventually soft, warm and biscuity. A touch of sweetness as it crossed the lips, a pleasant weight, neither too heavy nor too light, a delicious flavour, cedary, firm, with dry finish - the sort of level of tannin and acidity that leaves the mouth clean and dry, anticipating the next sip. Then at Flatt's "200 years of Lafite" tasting in New Orleans, autumn of 1988: appearance medium-deep, a fine gradation of colour stretching to a pleasantly mature rim; at 10.26am when the glasses were put before the seated tasters, having been decanted earlier and poured just before service, the bouquet was already forthcoming, rich, stylish. At 10.32am it already had developed a fine, classic, cedar nose, depth, more to come. It was at this stage that I first tasted the wine. At 10.46am the bouquet had developed, and an hour later was exquisite. On the palate it was a good, crisp flavour, touch of iron, lean and refreshing, excellent aftertaste - and more time in hand. M.B.
1 magnum and 4 bottles per lot
Pauillac, 1er cru class. Chteau-bottled
Lightly bin-soiled labels with slight tears. Levels base of neck or better, except one (bottle) very top-shoulder
Tasting note: Many notes. I shall just concentrate on two, a bottle decanted at 6.45pm and first poured at 8.30pm by which time the bouquet had had time to develop. It was already very forthcoming, fragrant, complex, with hints of iron and sage, eventually soft, warm and biscuity. A touch of sweetness as it crossed the lips, a pleasant weight, neither too heavy nor too light, a delicious flavour, cedary, firm, with dry finish - the sort of level of tannin and acidity that leaves the mouth clean and dry, anticipating the next sip. Then at Flatt's "200 years of Lafite" tasting in New Orleans, autumn of 1988: appearance medium-deep, a fine gradation of colour stretching to a pleasantly mature rim; at 10.26am when the glasses were put before the seated tasters, having been decanted earlier and poured just before service, the bouquet was already forthcoming, rich, stylish. At 10.32am it already had developed a fine, classic, cedar nose, depth, more to come. It was at this stage that I first tasted the wine. At 10.46am the bouquet had developed, and an hour later was exquisite. On the palate it was a good, crisp flavour, touch of iron, lean and refreshing, excellent aftertaste - and more time in hand. M.B.
1 magnum and 4 bottles per lot