Lafite Rothschild 1989

Beautiful, rich and still extremely young, this is Lafite at its gulpable, elegant, sculpted, age-defying best. Deeply-spiced cassis notes are joined by touches of cedar - the result of a dry year that saw one of the earliest harvests since 1898. The grapes were picked with high alcohol and ripe tannins and they have absolutely lasted, and will continue to do so. The tannins are cradling the fruit, barely perceptible and yet still fully in control.

Château Lafite-Rothschild Pauillac 1989: I have never been a huge fan of this Lafite but it seems to be coming into its own now. It's a wine with a character of cloves and berries with hints plums. It shows loads of potpourri. Roses too. Full and so balanced. Tight and youthful. The winemaker at Lafite says that when he wants to show someone a perfect example of Pauillac this is the Lafite he pours. Maybe he is right?

The 1989 Lafite-Rothschild has a well-defined bouquet, earthy in style, with cedar and wild strawberry at the start and later flanked by dried rose petals. Given that this is a First Growth, it does miss a bit of cohesion and horsepower. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins and a keen thread of acidity, pliant and gentle, gaining weight towards the sour cherry and pencil lead infused finish. It's not a long-term Lafite-Rothschild, though this bottle is slightly better than previous encounters. Tasted at the 1989 Bordeaux dinner at 67 Pall Mall. Drink 2024-2035.

This medium ruby-colored, medium-bodied wine reveals new oak in the nose and a spicy finish. It is a quintessentially elegant , restrained, understated style of Lafite. Aticipated maturity:2000-2035