One bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild
1982 vintage
Pauillac, Bordeaux/France
Original filling quantity: 0.75 l
Fill level: into neck
Robert Parker: 97+/100 (2009)
René Gabriel: 20/20 (2012)
Falstaff: 95/100 (2011)
Jean-Marc Quarin: 95/100 (2003)

This lot comprises one bottle of 1982 vintage Château Lafite Rothschild from the Pauillac appellation in Bordeaux.

The Pauillac appellation produces some of the world’s most highly-prized and expensive red wines. Situated to the northwest of the city of Bordeaux, near the Atlantic coast, its vineyards are located on dried-out swamplands. Vines take root in gravel dunes with subterranean clay lens. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon can develop a unique depth of taste and power, so the grape variety therefore makes up a large percentage of the Pauillac cuvées. The tannin-rich, powerful, concentrated wines require longer bottle-ageing in order to differentiate and reveal their taste. The Classification of 1855 put the vineyards of the Lafite-Rothschild and Latour estates ahead of the pack, awarding them Premier cru status. Mouton-Rothschild has also belonged to the club since 1973. In second place are the Deuxième crus of Pichon-Longueville-Baron and Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse de Lalande. For decades, however, experts have judged them as being at least on a par with their Premier cru counterparts. This is also the case for numerous other top wines from this appellation.

1982 was a very special vintage in Bordeaux. It is one of those truly great vintages, like 1945 and 1961, which will be talked about for decades to come. American wine critic Robert Parker made a name for himself when he described this vintage as outstanding, contradicting the opinion of many other wine critics. Time proved him right and sealed his reputation as the most influential wine critic in the world. A truly fine wine that will only continue to develop over the next 50 years!

The 1982 Lafite was last scored by Robert Parker in 2009, when he gave it 97+ points. In 2011, it received 95 points from Falstaff chief editor Peter Moser. French wine critic Jean-Marc Quarin last awarded it 95 points in 2003. Swiss Bordeaux expert René Gabriel gave the wine a full rating of 20 points in 2012.

The fill level is excellent (into neck). The label is slightly soiled and very slightly damaged. The capsule is in perfect condition.

Château Lafite Rothschild

Château Lafite Rothschild, owned by the Rothschild family since the 19th century, is arguably the most famous wine estate in the world. It is one of only four Châteaus that were classified as Premier Cru Classé for the Paris World Fair in 1855. The winery is located in Pauillac, next to the equally eminent Château Mouton-Rothschild. The vineyards of these two estates lie on a hilltop, up to 30 m high, with soil mostly made up of free-draining gravel. This makes it ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Due to the gravel, the vine plants must dig their roots deep into the soil and thus absorb more nutrients, influencing the wine’s bouquet. Furthermore, the gravel leads to a favourable thermal balance, which results in earlier maturation. The winery is advised by the oenologist Jacques Boissenot and his son Eric.

Château Lafite Rothschild has an acreage of 103 hectares. The grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon (71 %), Merlot (25 %), Cabernet Franc (3 %) and Petit Verdot (1 %) are cultivated there. The average age of the vines is 30 years, and 40 years for the first wine.

Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.