Tasting Notes
Robert Parker 98+
Since I gave this wine a perfect score, I suppose some could see this as a downgrade. I found everything still there for a perfect rating, but I was just struck by how tight and backward the wine was. A blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, the wine still has a dark ruby/purple color and an extraordinarily youthful nose of graphite, black currants, sweet, unsmoked cigar tobacco, and flowers. The wine is rich, medium to full-bodied, but has that ethereal elegance and purity that is always Lafite. I originally predicted that it would first reach maturity in 2011, but I would push that back by 5-7 years now, although it has 50-60 years of life in front of it. Owners of this beauty are probably best advised to forget it for 5 years. Tasted next to a 1996 several days after the 2000 tasting, the 1996, which is a perfect wine, was far closer to full maturity than the 2000.
JancisRobinson.com 18.5
Dark crimson with relatively pale rim. Fragrant yet savoury – high toned nose you would either love or loathe. Again the acidity is the notable feature with the tannins just emerging on the end of the palate – rather more evident than in the Margaux in fact. This one’s a nervy racechorse, dying to be allowed to gallop off into the distance. Quite stodgy tannins on the finish. A real long distance runner. The most backward of all – they decided not to include the Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon 93% Merlot 7%. Only 42% went into the grand vin. They added about 10% press wine. 12.5% £975
Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029
