Chateau Lafite Rothschild Vertical Tasting

One of my absolute favorite wines of all-time is the 1959 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. It is a wonderment, a life’s moment, a privilege, and rated a perfect score of 100 points.  I have been working on a private wine collection for some months now, and there happens to be three magnums of the 1959 Chateau Lafite Rothschild in this perfectly maintained underground home wine cellar.  I have been dreaming about tasting this wine again and I have decided to add some other Chateau Lafite vintages to create a special, historic tasting event. And, in fact, the retail value of the wines we are opening is $20,000. 

Here is the tasting line-up from this cellar: 

1959 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Magnum 

1966 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Magnum 

1979 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 750 ml 

1983 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 750 ml 

1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 750 ml 

1988 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Magnum 

1989 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 750 ml 

We will have a Champagne reception, and then get into the tasting. It will be $1,250 per person+ tax, no gratuity or service fee. 

Thank you! Gary Parker  

TO MAKE A RESERVATION, PLEASE EMAIL GARY PARKER: GParker@WineSellar.com

1959 Magnum, $9,000 (two for sale)

100 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

1959 Vintage Tasted: Sep 2021

If any bottle deserved 101 Pts, this is it! What a wine tasting experience. Unforgettable in every sense of the word, perhaps majestic captures the essence of this wine. The nose, with its non-stop bouquet of cedar, tobacco leaf, Cuban cigar box, spice, graphite, leaf, herbs, dried Flowers, and currants created an incredible perfume. But the star of the show was the powerful, elegant, refined, intense display of red fruits, spice, earth, and tobacco on your palate. Absolutely seamless, the elegant character was as mind-blowing as was the over 60 seconds of resonating fruits that had you wondering how a wine could be this good! This was from a magnum, so standard bottles might not be quite at this level.

1966 Magnum ($2,000. Two for Sale)

94 points Vinous

The 1966 LaFite-Rothschild is a wine that I have tasted twice before and it remains one of my favorite vintages from the period, even though as the Four Seasons First Growth dinner illustrated, not every bottle hits the spot. This bottle in Hong Kong ranks amongst the best that I have ever encountered. I notice quite wide bricking on the rim but it is clear in color. The bouquet is gentle, clean and pure, almost Burgundy-like in style: a divine perfume that might lack the horsepower of the 1966 Latour, yet is classically styled and disarmingly detailed. The palate is medium-bodied, with a satisfying weight in the mouth. Self-aware that it does not have to exert too much to satisfy, the 1966 delivers an entrancing piquancy toward the Finish. It benefits from aeration, gaining weight and density and after a couple of hours in the glass, it is overflowing with vigor and tension, whilst upholding its classical personality. It is just a beguiling old school Pauillac, no more, no less. (NM) (7/2018)

1979 $600

92 The Wine Spectator

From the famously tannic 1979 vintage, this LaFite is proving the more dismissive critics from earlier days wrong as it settles harmoniously into maturity with plenty of life and complexity remaining. At K&L, we are champions of great wines from difFicult vintages, and here is a perfectly mature First growth that may not be out of reach in price. Fans of classic wines from the Left Bank with preferences that favor the leathery and reFined end of the spectrum will Find much to appreciate here. Anyone who can get their hands on a bottle of this is in for a real treat! 

1983 $700

96 James Suckling, 94 Vinous

The 1983 Lafite-Rothschild is one of my favorite vintages of the decade, and this bottle, served blind, replicates its showing at their 150th anniversary vertical. However, at first, it feels a little disjointed on the nose, but it coheres in the glass, offering lovely blackberry fruit, hints of pain d'épices, black truffle and meat juices. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine-boned tannins, tobacco and morels. There's a bit more white pepper on the finish of this bottle, though persistent as ever. What a wonderful Lafite-Rothschild that, at 40 years, continues to go strong. (NM) (8/2023)

1986 $1,000 (One for sale)

98 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

1986 Vintage Tasted: Feb 2024 As good, or better than any bottle of 86 Lafite I have ever tasted, time has been kind to this wine. The nose sports a complex array of spices, dried tobacco leaves cedar, leather, and bright red berries. The palate is energetic, firm, and most importantly, regal in character, with loads of ripe, bright, chewy, currants and cassis in the mid-palate and finish. This could be a 100-year wine. Drink from 2024-2080. 

1988 Magnum ($2,750, Two for sale) 

96 points Decanter

This was a vintage that remained tight and closed for a long time. They are just starting to drink this at the chateau apparently, as Salin says it is their dinner wine right now. The salinity is coming through, giving a sappy grip through the mid palate, the effortless racy elegance of an older Cabernet Sauvignon with its truffles, smoked cedar, its grilled black fruits. Colour wise this is very much still intact, just a slight bricking at the edges. A lovely example of how you should never give up on wines from great estates – there will always be a moment when the terroir will out, as we saw on recent tastings of the 1975. The 1988 is certainly having one of those moments, and its long finessed finish should be savored. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon. (JA) (12/2016)

1989 $800 (three for sale)

97 points James Suckling

I have never been a huge fan of this Lafite but it seems to be coming into its own now. It's a wine with a character of cloves and berries with hints plums. It shows loads of potpourri. Roses too. Full and so balanced. Tight and youthful. The winemaker at Lafite says that when he wants to show someone a perfect example of Pauillac this is the Lafite he pours. Maybe he is right? (6/2013)

Lafite Rothschild wines are among the most expensive in the world due to several factors: 

1) Reputation and History: Lafite Rothschild is one of the oldest and most prestigious wine estates in Bordeaux, France. It has a long and storied history dating back to the 16th century, and its wines have been prized by royalty and connoisseurs for centuries.

2) Terroir: The vineyards of Lafite Rothschild are located in the Pauillac region of Bordeaux, which is renowned for producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines in the world. The unique combination of soil, climate, and microclimates in this area contribute to the exceptional quality of the grapes.

3) Limited Production: Lafite Rothschild produces relatively small quantities of wine compared to the demand, resulting in scarcity and high prices. The estate's total production is typically around 15,000 to 20,000 cases per year, which is considered low for a First Growth Bordeaux.

4) Quality Control: Lafite Rothschild is known for its meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and cellars, with a focus on ensuring the highest possible quality in every vintage. This level of quality control and attention to detail adds to the cost of production.

5) Aging Potential: Lafite Rothschild wines are known for their exceptional aging potential, with the best vintages able to improve for decades. This ability to evolve and develop complex flavors over time adds to the perceived value and desirability of the wines.

6) Demand and Prestige: Lafite Rothschild is one of the most sought-after and prestigious wines in the world, with a global reputation for excellence. This high demand, combined with the limited supply, allows the estate to command premium prices.