Red
France
Year 1996
13% Alcohol
by Chateau Lafite Rothschild
About
"The growing season was excellent in 1996, with optimal conditions for the initial part of the growth cycle. August was then difficult, cold, and rainy; drenching the winegrowers’ spirits. Fortunately this was followed by a gloriously sunny September.
With respect to tasting, this vintage thus had three phases, which ultimately produced a rich, dense, structured, very complex wine. Some tasters find ’96 reminiscent of the elegance of ’53, and the power of ’59, which augurs well for this vintage that will undoubtedly improve with age for a very long time!"
It comprises 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot.
Expert Reviews
- RP
- 100
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
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?
- NM
- 98
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild was remarkably deep in color considering that it is now 20 years in age. The bouquet is classic Pauillac with pencil shavings and sous-bois infusing the black fruit, masculine and a little aloof, yet focused and very well delineated. The palate is very well balanced with crisp blackberry and boysenberry fruit, spicier than I recollect, a crescendo of flavors so that it seems understated at first but fans out with a sense of confidence towards the finish. I think this still has more to give so cellar it away for another 5-8 years if you can, but otherwise this is an exemplary Lafite-Rothschild that I can envisage getting better and better in bottle, if not quite as enthralling as either Mouton-Rothschild or Château Margaux. Tasted July 2016.
Shipping Info
Boccaccio Cellars offers free shipping for 12 or more bottles of wine, or if the value of the wine is over $300. Fixed Shipping $12 Australia wide on wine when you don’t qualify for free shipping. Beer slabs attract a $20 per carton freight cost Australia Wide.
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