1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

Red Bordeaux Blend

France / Bordeaux / Medoc / AOC Pauillac

$1,365
RP 100
V 97
Size:
Quantity:

Availability: 12

GRAND CRU CLASSÉS EN 1855, Premier Cru

1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France

Vintage Notes
A good crop year, with excellent conditions for the growth of the grapes, then a difficult, cold and rainy month of August which lowered the morale of the winegrowers, and fortunately a bright September sun.

Ageing
18 to 20 months in 100% new barrels.

TASTING NOTES (AT BOTTLING):
The three stages of this vintage give us, in the end, a very rich, dense, very structured and complex wine. Some tasters find in this '96' the elegance of the 1953, and the power of the 1959: bodes well for this long-keeping vintage!

83% Cabernet-Sauvignon 9% Merlot 8% Petit Verdot

RP 100

Robert Parker 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? Reviewed by Robert M. Parker, Jr., Issue date: April 1999. Drinking window: 2012-2050.
V 97

Vinous

(Rating 97+) The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is consistent with the bottle shown at the Hong Kong vertical. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, cedar and a pencil box of graphite. The adjective I use whilst writing this note is that the aromas are "cool". Perhaps given its provenance, this is one of the most backward bottles of 1996 that I have tasted. There are those fine but rigid tannins that lend this Lafite such beguiling symmetry, copious cedar and graphite with vein of brine and oyster shell. I love the precision of this wine and the sappiness on the finish. At the moment, maybe more impressive than enjoyable, so if you can, cellar it for another 5 to 8 years. Tasted at the Lafite-Rothschild 150th anniversary dinner at the estate. Reviewed by Neal Martin, Issue date: May 2018. Drinking window: 2025-2055.

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  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
RP 100

Robert Parker 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? Reviewed by Robert M. Parker, Jr., Issue date: April 1999. Drinking window: 2012-2050.
V 97

Vinous

(Rating 97+) The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is consistent with the bottle shown at the Hong Kong vertical. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, cedar and a pencil box of graphite. The adjective I use whilst writing this note is that the aromas are "cool". Perhaps given its provenance, this is one of the most backward bottles of 1996 that I have tasted. There are those fine but rigid tannins that lend this Lafite such beguiling symmetry, copious cedar and graphite with vein of brine and oyster shell. I love the precision of this wine and the sappiness on the finish. At the moment, maybe more impressive than enjoyable, so if you can, cellar it for another 5 to 8 years. Tasted at the Lafite-Rothschild 150th anniversary dinner at the estate. Reviewed by Neal Martin, Issue date: May 2018. Drinking window: 2025-2055.

1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France

Vintage Notes
A good crop year, with excellent conditions for the growth of the grapes, then a difficult, cold and rainy month of August which lowered the morale of the winegrowers, and fortunately a bright September sun.

Ageing
18 to 20 months in 100% new barrels.

TASTING NOTES (AT BOTTLING):
The three stages of this vintage give us, in the end, a very rich, dense, very structured and complex wine. Some tasters find in this '96' the elegance of the 1953, and the power of the 1959: bodes well for this long-keeping vintage!

83% Cabernet-Sauvignon 9% Merlot 8% Petit Verdot

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