"The
most powerful, concentrated,
and enormously endowed La Mission
Haut Brion between 1975 and 2000,
this wine still seems very backward
and yet, oh so promising. I have
gone back and forth over its
life, wondering whether it is
a modern day clone of the 1961
or 1959, but more and more I
am leaning toward the 1959. The
wine has a murky, opaque plum/garnet
color with no lightening at the
edge. With hours of aeration,
the wine begins to reveal a prodigious
perfume of of black fruits, scorched
earth, licorice, truffles, and
some graphite as well as damp
earth. Enormously concentrated,
with extraordinary power and
depth, this wine continues to
me of a modern day equivalent
of the 1959. The 1982 still reveals
plenty of tannin, which should
guarantee it at least another
three decades of longevity. This
is clearly a 50 year wine.100
points R. Parker
This
amazing La Mission has finally
caught up in stature to the
legendary 1989. Amazingly enough
the price has not yet, but
it will. This is a great wine
to buy now!
"Surprisingly, the 1990 La Mission-Haut-Brion performed nearly as well as the
1989. Three of the tasters in the group of seven who participated in this blind
tasting rated it higher than the 1989. I make this point because I think the
1990 is improving in the bottle, similar to the evolution of the 1990 Haut-Brion.
The 1990 La Mission performed well-above my original score of 92. The wine is
ostentatious, with a sweet, spicy, cedary, fruitcake, roasted black fruit-scented
nose, admirable richness, a juicy, succulent, voluptuous texture, gobs of fruit
and glycerin, low acidity, and a full-bodied, layered finish. This splendidly
chewy, intense La Mission-Haut-Brion will come close to matching the quality
of the legendary 1989. It will continue to drink well for another two decades." 96
points Robert Parker
It
will will be hard to pick a
favorite Lafite between the
1982, 1986 and 1996. Nevertheless,
the 1986 is an immortal wine
that will live in history as
one of the greatest wines ever
in Bordeaux.
"The 1986 possesses outstanding richness, a deep color, medium body, a graceful,
harmonious texture, and superb length. The penetrating fragrance of cedar, chestnuts,
minerals, and rich fruit is a hallmark of this wine. Powerful, dense, rich, and
tannic, as well as medium to full-bodied, with awesome extraction of fruit, this
Lafite has immense potential. Patience is required." 100 points R. Parker
Arriving in February. Pre-order
now.Ex-Chateau Stock.
Probably
the greatest Lafite ever and
even superior to the 1982 and
2000. A classic, immortal wine
that belongs in any smartly
stocked cellar.
"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?" 100 points R. Parker
This
has always been of our favorite
1982s and right now it is one
of the most sublime bottles
you'll ever have. We have gotten
this perfect stock directly
from the chateau. Absolutely
pristine, like new, condition.
Don't miss it!
"The best showing yet for this wine (admittedly it was from a double magnum,
not a regular bottle), l'Arrosee's 1982 exhibited a deep ruby color with some
lightening at the edge. Spectacular aromas of minerals, smoke, kirsch liqueur,
and vanilla were intense and persistent. Velvety-textured and succulent, with
low acidity, a terrific, thick, juicy fatness, gorgeous purity, fully mature
flavors, and a 40+-second finish make this a sumptuous example of the vintage.
Anticipated maturity: now-2010."95 points R. Parker
One
of the greatest Latour ever
and as good as the 1982 and
2000. As of right now, this
is a very under-priced wine
and every collector out there
should be loading up on it.
It is half the price of the
1982 and $2000 less than the
2000.
"A spectacular Latour, the 1996 may be the modern day clone of the 1966, only
riper. This vintage, which is so variable in Pomerol, St.-Emilion, and Graves,
was fabulous for the late-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon of the northern Medoc
because of splendid weather in late September and early October. An opaque purple
color is followed by phenomenally sweet, pure aromas of cassis infused with subtle
minerals. This massive offering possesses unreal levels of extract, full body,
intensely ripe, but abundant tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute.
Classic and dense, it displays the potential for 50-75 years of longevity. Although
still an infant, it would be educational to taste a bottle." 99 points R.
Parker
This
incredible wine needs no introductions.
Latour has been a model of
consistency for over 50 years
and the 2000 vintage is a legend
in the making.
"There are only 14,000 cases (only 48% of the crop made it into the grand vin)
of the 2000, which flirts with perfection. Truly great stuff, it reveals perfect
equilibrium, great finesse, yet colossal size, with a thickness and density that
rival the brilliant 1996. This saturated black ruby/purple colored wine seems
almost discreet on first inspection, but with aeration, notes of vanilla, exceptionally
pure, mineral-infused creme de cassis, and earth emerge. Full-bodied and tannic,
it should come close to representing perfection. Latour's 2000 is hard to compare
with previous vintages. It obviously does not have the opulence of the 1990 and
1982, yet there is an extraordinary purity, delineation, seamlessness, and freshness
to this wine that sets it apart from previous vintages. In any event, it is prodigious,
with at least five decades of evolution ahead of it. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2050."98+
points Robert Parker
Recently
re-released by the chateau,
these magnums are in impeccable,
time-warp condition. The wine
has finally come out of its
shell and it is getting better
with each tasting. This is
a great opportunity to grab
some perfect stock of this
beautiful Las Cases.
"It is fashionable, as well as often justifiable, to criticize this slowly evolving
vintage where disappointments outweigh successes, particularly in the Medoc.
Perhaps some of the Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines will behave like 1955s or
1928s, but Leoville-Las Cases is unquestionably one of the stars of the vintage.
The murky dark ruby/purple/garnet color is followed by a nose with a pronounced
mineral/wet stone component intermingled with ripe, earthy, berry fruit (red
and black currants galore). Still ferociously tannic to the point of astringency,
this medium to full-bodied, concentrated wine reveals no signs of color degradation.
The wine is intense and chewy, but still tough-textured. Those who like wines
with considerable grip and tannic bite will enjoy this wine at present, but it
remains a young wine that has not moved out of adolescence." 93 points Robert
Parker
Recently
re-released by the chateau,
these cases are in impeccable,
time-warp condition. The wine
has finally come out of its
shell and it is getting better
with each tasting. This is
a great opportunity to grab
some perfect stock of this
beautiful Las Cases.
"It is fashionable, as well as often justifiable, to criticize this slowly evolving
vintage where disappointments outweigh successes, particularly in the Medoc.
Perhaps some of the Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines will behave like 1955s or
1928s, but Leoville-Las Cases is unquestionably one of the stars of the vintage.
The murky dark ruby/purple/garnet color is followed by a nose with a pronounced
mineral/wet stone component intermingled with ripe, earthy, berry fruit (red
and black currants galore). Still ferociously tannic to the point of astringency,
this medium to full-bodied, concentrated wine reveals no signs of color degradation.
The wine is intense and chewy, but still tough-textured. Those who like wines
with considerable grip and tannic bite will enjoy this wine at present, but it
remains a young wine that has not moved out of adolescence." 93 points Robert
Parker
This
legendary wine needs no introductions.
We will still be talking about
it in 30 years when it will
be $2,000+ per bottle and wishing
we bought lots more today.
It is only going to get better...and
more expensive.
"Tasted three times over a two month period, this youthful yet profoundly complex
wine gets my nod as the finest Leoville-Las-Cases ever made. It reveals massive
proportions yet extraordinary purity, elegance, and balance. This dense ruby/purple-colored
1982 still looks and tastes as if it were 5-8 years old. The nose offers up blazingly
well-delineated, pure aromas of creme de cassis, cherry jam, minerals, and toasty
new oak. This unctuously-textured, gorgeously rich, pure, super-concentrated,
low acid effort concludes with a 45+ second finish. There is still tannin to
shed in this unbelievably fresh, lively, full-bodied, vibrant wine. Anticipated
maturity: 2006-2035."100 points Robert Parker
