Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1986

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkel, dichtes Purpur, schwarze Reflexe. In der tiefschürfenden Nase Rauch, Korinthen, getrocknetes Laub, Edelhölzer, kompakt und irgendwie nasal die Faust ballend, feinste Kräuternuancen und fermentierte Teeblätter, zarte Jod- und Torfnoten, also die erste Tertiärphase einläutend. Satter, fleischiger Gaumen, noch etwas blockiert im Fluss durch die sandigen, semi-arroganten Tannine, die sich von der Zunge her mit dem Rest des Mundes in einer umfassenden Adstringenz verbinden, wenig Charme, aber ein noch unglaubliches Potenzial. Noch nicht in der ersten Reife, aber – zumindest mit dieser Flasche – den Wunsch zeigend, einmal zu den tanninreichen Vorbildern wie 1928 und 1945 gehören zu wollen. Ein bewegender, aber auch arbeitsamer Schluck. Irgendwie ist er das Gegenteil eines Lafites, weil er wie ein reicher Bauer mit Brokatweste daherkommt."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "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."

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Karmingranat, breiter Ockerrand, Orangereflexe. In der Nase feine tabakige Nuancen, zarte rotbeerige Nuancen, mit etwa Luft feuchtes Unterholz, Noten von Brombeeren und reifen Kirschen. Am Gaumen dunkle Beeren, frisch strukturiert, mineralischer Touch, wirkt kernig, die Tannine sind noch immer etwas fordernd, rotbeeriger Frucht im Nachhall, zitroniger Touch im Finish, ein Grenzgänger zwischen altem Stil und neuer Zeit, hier ist nach wie Geduld geboten."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 1986 Lafite Rothschild unfurls in the decanter and glass with aromas of earthy blackcurrant fruit mingled with notions of cigar box and red berries. Richer and darker in profile than the 1975 drunk alongside, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and concentrated, displaying a velvety attack and a lively core of fruit, with just a touch of the tannic asperity that often defines this vintage in the Médoc making itself felt on the finish. As it approaches its 40th birthday, the 1986 Lafite still needs several hours' decant to show its best."

DECANTER: "The wine seems fully mature, more so than the '89 (or the '82, tasted recently, but not for this vertical). The aromas were savoury roast meat, black plum, fig, and prune touched with smoke, coffee, and truffle. The texture was dense and extraordinarily tannic. The finish was long, and there was a touch of soy sauce right at the end. The 1986 vintage featured a dry spring followed by a hot summer, but there were small, sporadic rain showers that meant the grapes did not suffer drought stress. At Lafite the final blend was 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "This was by far the most youthful and concentrated of the trio (1983, 1985 and 1986) of Lafite vintages served blind with masses of tannins still in evidence. Sweet and arguably just slightly lacking freshness and energy compared with the 1985 – also thicker. But there is still the Lafite polish. This could be drunk now but should last an age. More solid and stolid than most Lafites."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A firm, young wine. Dark ruby color. Intense aromas of blackberry and mint. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. Still needs time.--Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2003."