Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1996

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted three times since bottling, the 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38% of the crop was deemed grand enough to be put into the final blend, which is atypically high in Cabernet Sauvignon (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot). This massive wine may be the biggest, largest-scaled Lafite I have ever tasted. It will require many years to come around, so I suspect all of us past the age of fifty might want to give serious consideration as to whether we should be laying away multiple cases of this wine. It is also the first Lafite-Rothschild to be put into a new engraved bottle (designed to prevent fraudulent imitations). The wine exhibits a thick-looking, ruby/purple color, and a knock-out nose of lead pencil, minerals, flowers, and black currant scents. Extremely powerful and full-bodied, with remarkable complexity for such a young wine, this huge Lafite is oozing with extract and richness, yet has managed to preserve its quintessentially elegant personality. This wine is even richer than it was prior to bottling. It should unquestionably last for 40-50 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. The wine of the vintage?"

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Granat. Extrem reduktiv, Bakelit, reife Pflaumen, viele Röstnoten im Untergrund, der Zedernduft eines grossen Ducru. Im Gaumen unglaublich dicht, fleischig, mit viel zukunftsträchtiger Substanz. Feiner als der 86er und doch irgendwie sein unsterblicher Nachfolger. Leider gibt es von diesem Wein unterschiedliche Abfüllungen. Die einen sind dumpf und weisen einen moderigen Schleier auf. Wir haben ihn aus zwei halben Flaschen verkostet. Beide waren identisch und legendär. Braucht noch mindestens 20 Jahre Flaschenreife. Geduld bringt Jahrhundertweinrosen. Ein vergleichbares Trio: 1870, 1959, 1996!"

DECANTER: "An elegant but muscular Lafite, really summing up the trajectory that this wine takes over decades in a good vintage. It started out in its early years with huge concentration, more in fact than in many vintages, but it is now showcasing the subtlety and infinite range of flavours and aromatics that make Lafite such a singular wine. Expect layers of earth, cigar box, liquorice, cold ash, blackberry, cassis, pencil lead, mint leaf and crushed rock minerality. The first Lafite to be put in an anti-fraud engraved bottle. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040"

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, etwas aufgehellt, zarter Wasserrand. Stark rauchig-würzig unterlegtes Brombeergelee, Dörrzwetschgen, ein Hauch von Bouillon, braucht sehr viel Luft. Dunkelbeerig, straffe, tragfähige Tannine, die noch ihre Zeit verlangen, ein wirklich vielschichtiger Wein, pfeffrige Noten im Abgang, im Nachhall nach Schlehen und Weichseln, dezent nach Edelschokolade im Rückgeschmack."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "I´m hearing Etta James with "At Last." I´ve wanted to taste this wine for years. And finally, or should I say, at last, you´re here in my glass, and I can say without reservation, where that wine went next. Right where it was supposed to be! If you´re looking for the wine of the vintage, stop your search. I am thinking we have a winner, and that says a lot for 1996 Left Bank Bordeaux! The intense powerful, complex nose with its attention grabbing forest floor, earth, some, cassis, Cuban tobacco and cedar wood is off the hook. And that´s just the start of the party. The wine has this beautiful purity of fruit, velvet textures and lushness to it, that makes impossible not to want to take another sip. The finish lingers, expands and gains in complexity for well over 60 seconds! Yes, this is more than expensive. But if you have the money, or very wealthy friends, this is real deal."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The beauty and balance of this are phenomenal. Seamless tannins and fruit. Full body yet so balanced and refined. Sweet tobacco and berries. Minerals and cedar. A beautiful wine. The depth is superb. Drink now."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Looks (and tastes) SO much much younger and more purple than the Lafite 1995. Quite aromatic, very rich and ripe. Seductive. Very smooth. Almost formless for the tannins are well in retreat. Solid stuff that still has a way to go. Slightly inky. Much younger and more angular than the 1995. But it should come out of its shell very elegantly."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Gorgeous aromas of currant, berries and licorice. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Still holding back. People talk about this as one of the greatest Lafites ever, but I don´t think so.--´95/´96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008."