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Lafite Rothschild 1997

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Lafite Rothschild

Label

Tasting Notes

92
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

Only 26% of the crop made it into the final blend, resulting in only 15,000 cases of the 1997 Lafite-Rothschild. Readers should not ignore this wine because of the negative press surrounding the 1997 vintage. It boasts an opaque dense purple color in addition to a gorgeously sweet, expansive perfume of cedar wood, black currants, lead pencil, and minerals. What follows is a fat mid-palate, medium body, explosive fruit and richness, soft tannin, and a velvety texture. It is a beautiful, compelling Lafite-Rothschild that can be drunk young, yet promises to evolve for 15+ years. Although one of the most forward Lafites ever tasted, it is all the more captivating because of this characteristic. Don't miss it!

92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (128), April 2000
90/92
Robert Parker, Wine Buyers Guide (5), January 2000
90/93
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (3), November 1998

It may turn out to a modern day replay of the glorious 1976. Complex, with considerable finesse, elegance, and a sexy, approachable style, this dark ruby/purple-colored, medium-bodied wine already reveals copious quantities of the tell-tale Lafite scents of mineral, lead pencil, and cedar. This rich, yet graceful Lafite displays no trace of agressiveness or hardness. It is an approachable, lush wine that will evolve quickly, yet keep for 15-20 years.

90/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (116), April 1998
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.