Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1994

WINE SPECTATOR: "A luscious Lafite that is silky and elegant with layers of wonderful violet, berry, cherry and chocolate flavors. It's full-bodied, with racy, refined tannins and good length. Drinkable now, but best from 1999 and through another decade. 18,750 cases made."

WEINWISSER: "Sehr dunkle Farbe. Erstaunlich dichte Nase, zunächst noch leicht grünliche Noten, von Beginn an eine erstaunliche Tiefe zeigend. Im Gaumen dezent maskuline Struktur, wirkt kühl und auch etwas hart, viel Lakritze und schwarze, leicht bittere Pfefferkörner zeigend. Viel zu jung und eher im klassischen, traditionellen Bereich anzusiedeln. Doch selbst der Lafite kann die jahrgangstypischen 1994er-Tanninkrallen (noch?) nicht einbehalten. Am besten, man wartet noch zehn Jahre."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Because Lafite-Rothschild (1) tends to lack the weight of many wines of the northern Medoc, and (2) is never a flashy, ostentatious style of wine, it is often more difficult to evaluate when young than some of its neighbors. Made from nearly 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this dark ruby/purple-colored wine is stubbornly backward, unappealing, and severe and astringent on the palate. There is plenty of weight, and the wine possesses admirable purity, with no suggestion of herbaceousness or underripe fruit, but the wine's personality refuses to be coaxed from the glass. The 1994 Lafite may turn out to be austere and disappointing flavor-wise, but possesses a fabulous set of aromatics (does that sound reminiscent of the 1961, another Lafite that was primarily Cabernet Sauvignon?). I am not giving up on this wine, but purchasers should be willing to wait 15-20 years before pulling a cork. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030."

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, erstaunliche Farbtiefe, orangefarbene Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. In der Nase feine Herzkirschen, etwas Zwetschken, nach feuchtem Unterholz, etwas Zedernholz, Bleistift, etwas Velours. Am Gaumen mittlere Textur, gut gereifte Tannine, frische Säurestruktur, feine Noten von gereiften Zwetschken und etwas Heidelbeeren im Nachhall, ein balancierter, eher leichtfüßiger Speisenbegleiter mit mittlerer Länge, bereits gut antrinkbar. ! Trinken +20 Jahre"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Medium bodied, lean and with a definite, crunchy crisp, bright, red berry character, the nose with its cedar, tobacco, earth and red fruit leanings is better than the classical palate, which shows the green peppery side of the vintage. The wine will continue to age, but frankly, it is not worth the money in this vintage."