Lafite 1999

The 1999 Lafite Rochschild sports an engraved "1999" on the bottle along with an eclipse to mark that significant histoircal event of August 1999. A quintessential offering from Lafite Rothschild, this prodigious wine is both elegant and intensely flavoured and almost diaphanous in its layers that unfold with no heaviness. An opaue ruby/purple colour is accompanied by a complex bouquet of lead pencil, graphite, cedar, crème de cassis, toast, and vanilla. Medium bodied with extravagant layers of richness yet little weight and a finish that is all sweetness, ripeness, and harmony, this extroadinary Lafite increasingly appears to be amodern day clone of the majestic 1953. A mere one-third of the crop made it into the grand vin!Anticipated maturity:2007-2030

A great effort for the vintage, the 1999 possesses an open-knit, friendly, with sweet tannin, low acidity, and plump, corpulent, earthy, black fruit notes intertwined with a touch of pain grille and berries. The wine is opulent and pure, with a sensational mid-palate as well as 35+ second finish. This wine will be approachable upon release, yet will last 25 or more years. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025.

The 1999 Lafite (74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18.5% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1.5% Petit Verdot) reveals the characteristics of a hot growing season. It possesses what I call concentrated finesse. The bouquet offers up aromas of lead pencil, black fruits, vanilla, and minerals. Rich yet suave, gloriously precise, and ethereal in its nicely-layered texture that floats across the palate without any heaviness, this deep, medium-bodied, impressively-endowed Lafite-Rothschild should be one of the few Lafites that can be drunk early in life. It possesses the requisite stuffing, power, and extract level to evolve for 20 or more years. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020+.

complex aromas of blackberries, tobacco, spices and black licorice are alluring in this full bodied claret, with a solid core of fruit and silky tannins. Long caressing finish. Superfine, well structred. Wine of the vintage. Best after 2006.

Transparent and lively. Fresh, appetising and already swallowable. So direct and frank! This is not one of Lafite's finest, most intense productions but it's well balanced and racy. Drink 2010-2025. Date tasted 25th June 09.

In our tastings Lafite was the best of the 1998 First growths and many commentators reckon that they have done it again in 1999. The wine is beautifully balanced with warm redcurrant and cranberry fruit and touches of exotic spices. Very classy and polished, Charles Chevalier has extracted beautiful ripeness.