12 bottles per lot
Details
A COMPLETE CASE OF LAFITE OF THE GREAT 1959 VINTAGE
Lying in Twickenham, Middlesex (EHD)
Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1959
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Three bottles rebouché at the Château in 1992. Bin-soiled and stained labels. Levels into neck. Nine bottles: Four slightly corroded capsules. Bin-soiled and stained labels some slightly scuffed edges. Levels base of neck
Not in original wooden case
Tasting Note: One of the best-ever Lafites, quite different from the more delicately fragrant '53s, and keeping well. I did not have the opportunity to taste it in its youth; indeed, I see with some surprise that my first note was made at a Heublein pre-auction tasting in May 1975 when it was already well developed yet, clearly, with many years of life. I have since been fortunate to catch up, with just short of three dozen neatly spread notes. Ignoring an occasionally poorly kept bottle, admirable. It has always had an impressively deep colour, though now, of course, showing some mahogany-edged maturity; always a magnificent mouthful too. One of the most interesting and salutary tastings was organised in 1994 by Weinart at Aschau, south of Munich, to compare the top 1959s and 1961s (blind). Though the '61 Lafite was very fragrant, I observed that the '59 had a deeper, mulberry colour, a rich, harmonious nose and was sweeter, fuller, more complete. Though I say it myself, I managed to produce a perfect bottle at my Bordeaux Club dinner in 1996, drawing the cork (having stood the bottle up for 24 hours) at 5.45pm, decanting an hour later, and pouring at 8.20pm to give it plenty of time to open up in the glass - which it did. Then, in 1998, an excellent magnum, among other magnificent wines, from N K Yong's cellar, dining at his home in Singapore. It had everything in abundance except, perhaps, charm. Well, what has it got? The extraordinary ability to exude not only an immediate cedary perfume but, very much a Lafite speciality, the way it opens up further avenues of fragrance and subtle by-paths, lingering in the mouth. Each time you pick up your glass you notice another facet of scent and taste. It also happens to be a good drink, still a perfect beverage. Last tasted Dec 2000 ***** M.B.
12 bottles per lot
Lying in Twickenham, Middlesex (EHD)
Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1959
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Three bottles rebouché at the Château in 1992. Bin-soiled and stained labels. Levels into neck. Nine bottles: Four slightly corroded capsules. Bin-soiled and stained labels some slightly scuffed edges. Levels base of neck
Not in original wooden case
Tasting Note: One of the best-ever Lafites, quite different from the more delicately fragrant '53s, and keeping well. I did not have the opportunity to taste it in its youth; indeed, I see with some surprise that my first note was made at a Heublein pre-auction tasting in May 1975 when it was already well developed yet, clearly, with many years of life. I have since been fortunate to catch up, with just short of three dozen neatly spread notes. Ignoring an occasionally poorly kept bottle, admirable. It has always had an impressively deep colour, though now, of course, showing some mahogany-edged maturity; always a magnificent mouthful too. One of the most interesting and salutary tastings was organised in 1994 by Weinart at Aschau, south of Munich, to compare the top 1959s and 1961s (blind). Though the '61 Lafite was very fragrant, I observed that the '59 had a deeper, mulberry colour, a rich, harmonious nose and was sweeter, fuller, more complete. Though I say it myself, I managed to produce a perfect bottle at my Bordeaux Club dinner in 1996, drawing the cork (having stood the bottle up for 24 hours) at 5.45pm, decanting an hour later, and pouring at 8.20pm to give it plenty of time to open up in the glass - which it did. Then, in 1998, an excellent magnum, among other magnificent wines, from N K Yong's cellar, dining at his home in Singapore. It had everything in abundance except, perhaps, charm. Well, what has it got? The extraordinary ability to exude not only an immediate cedary perfume but, very much a Lafite speciality, the way it opens up further avenues of fragrance and subtle by-paths, lingering in the mouth. Each time you pick up your glass you notice another facet of scent and taste. It also happens to be a good drink, still a perfect beverage. Last tasted Dec 2000 ***** M.B.
12 bottles per lot
Special notice
VAT rate of 17.5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.