12 bottles per lot
Details
Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1986
Pauillac, 1er cru classé. Château-bottled
Excellent appearance. Original tissues. Levels into neck. In original wooden case
Tasting Note: First noted at the Union des Grands Crus tasting at Christie's in 1988. It showed well. Good depth of fruit, long, but lean and taut. Four recent notes: trying to mature; fragrant but hard; crisp, citrus-like fruit, and tannic. Refreshing. Unready (1996). Still fairly intense; low-keyed, slightly peppery, just waking up; some sweetness, but with teeth-gripping tannins (tasted blind 1998). A magnum, still very deep, thick (extract) but with a surprisingly mature orange rim that I associate with tannins dominating the fruit (like some '75s). Very 'medicinal', iron, typically Lafite nose; more amenable than I expected, good mid-palate fruit but hard edged. Something like a '62 or '66. Noted at a combined children's birthday lunch party at home. I propose to leave my children Emma and Bartholomew two magnums each in my will - if Daphne hasn't drunk them! Most recently: impressively deep; very good nose, considerable depth and more to come; unexpectedly sweet and ready to drink though will keep well. Last tasted March 2006 ***(*) M.B.
12 bottles per lot
Pauillac, 1er cru classé. Château-bottled
Excellent appearance. Original tissues. Levels into neck. In original wooden case
Tasting Note: First noted at the Union des Grands Crus tasting at Christie's in 1988. It showed well. Good depth of fruit, long, but lean and taut. Four recent notes: trying to mature; fragrant but hard; crisp, citrus-like fruit, and tannic. Refreshing. Unready (1996). Still fairly intense; low-keyed, slightly peppery, just waking up; some sweetness, but with teeth-gripping tannins (tasted blind 1998). A magnum, still very deep, thick (extract) but with a surprisingly mature orange rim that I associate with tannins dominating the fruit (like some '75s). Very 'medicinal', iron, typically Lafite nose; more amenable than I expected, good mid-palate fruit but hard edged. Something like a '62 or '66. Noted at a combined children's birthday lunch party at home. I propose to leave my children Emma and Bartholomew two magnums each in my will - if Daphne hasn't drunk them! Most recently: impressively deep; very good nose, considerable depth and more to come; unexpectedly sweet and ready to drink though will keep well. Last tasted March 2006 ***(*) M.B.
12 bottles per lot