| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A bottle of 1961 Lafite from a collector's cellar was an absolute delight over the holidays. It was one of the best bottles of mature Lafite in recent memory and still showed plenty of blackcurrant and fig fruit with an accent of smoke and leather and just a suggestion of forest floor and truffle. The texture was surprisingly rich, and although the tannins seemed to have melted away, the wine hung together nicely and lingered like a caress on the palate. (Drink between 2022-2042)
I have always been a little mean to the 1961 Lafite-Rothschild that was fated to lie in the shadow of Latour and Mouton-Rothschild. However, this is definitely the best bottle that I have encountered. With classic cedar and graphite scents and a faint touch of leather on the nose, this example heightens the marine influence—very fine delineation. The palate is balanced, pure and crisp with graphite-infused black fruit, conveying the refinement and almost understatedness of the First Growth. It just seems to "glide" on the finish. It deserves a round of applause and a higher score than I gave previous bottles. Tasted at the Lafite-Rothschild vertical at Ami restaurant in Hong Kong. (Drink between 2024-2044)
