1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild - Pauillac

Robert Parker called the 1996 Lafite-Rothschild unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine, tasted three separate times since bottling with total consistency. Only 38% of that year's crop was deemed grand enough to make the final blend, an atypically high 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot, a Cabernet percentage rarely seen even at Lafite. Expect dense black currant, cedar, cassis, leather, and earth on the nose, with brilliant garnet color and the kind of massive concentration critics consistently describe as among the most powerful Lafites ever produced. Vinous called it one of the most backward, structured bottlings of the entire 1996 vintage, built to last 40 to 50 years. A genuine reference-point First Growth from one of the Médoc's greatest vintages, with proven longevity and still years from its peak.