1998 | Chteau Lafite Rothschild | Pauillac

Red Wine: 1998 | Chteau Lafite Rothschild | Pauillac

Once the first tanks had been worked, analyzed, and tasted, weary expressions changed to satisfied smiles. This vintage reflects the strength of our soil, with its deep colour and woody, fruity, and spicy palate.

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Producer: Chteau Lafite Rothschild

Ratings: WA | 98 WS | 95

Vintage: 1998

Size: 750ml

ABV: 13%

Varietal: Bordeaux Blend Red

Country/Region: France, Bordeaux

Once the first tanks had been worked, analyzed, and tasted, weary expressions changed to satisfied smiles. This vintage reflects the strength of our soil, with its deep colour and woody, fruity, and spicy palate. The “98” may be preserved for a very long time, and is rich and full with a silky and long finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, this wine represents only 34% of Lafite’s total harvest. In a less than perfect Medoc vintage, it has been spectacular since birth, putting on more weight and flesh over the last year. This opaque purple-colored 1998 is close to perfection. The spectacular nose of lead pencil, smoky, mineral, and black currant fruit soars majestically from the glass. The wine is elegant yet profoundly rich, revealing the essence of Lafite’s character. The tannin is sweet, and the wine is spectacularly layered yet never heavy. The finish is sweet, super-rich, yet impeccably balanced and long (50+ seconds). Anticipated maturity: 2007-2035.

• Wine Spectator: Amazing aromas of crushed blackberries, toasted oak and currant, spices. Really a great nose. Full-bodied, with round and velvety tannins and a long, long finish. It lasts for minutes on the palate. Superb. Best wine of the Mdoc, without a doubt.

Producer Information

Chateau Lafite Rothschild is one of only four classified first growths and thus the designation as 1st er Cru. The vintage rankings of the Universal Paris Exposition in 1855 officially gave Lafite the rating as Leader among fine wines. While the first known reference to Lafite dates to 1234 with a certain Gombaud de Lafite, abbot of the Vertheuil Monastery north of Pauillac, Lafites mention as a medieval fief dates to the 14th century. The name Lafite comes from the Gascon language term la hite, which means hillock. There were probably already vineyards on the property at the time when the Sgur family organised the vineyard in the 17th century, and Lafite began to earn its reputation as a great winemaking estate. Jacques de Sgur was credited with the planting of the Lafite vineyard in the 1670s and in the early 1680s. The estate achieved wide popularity in the 1750s when it became the favorite wine of King Louis XV. Thomas Jefferson was also a steadfast customer and even visited the estate. After the 1973-1976 mini-crisis that hit Bordeaux, Baron Erics management of the estate made strides forward with a search for excellence and the gradual addition of a new technical team. In 1985 Baron Eric began a tradition of inviting fine-arts photographers to photograph Chateau Lafite. Today, his daughter Saskia de Rothschild represents the 6th generation of the family at the head of the winemaking properties.