Critic Notes
Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s Christmas lunch. At 21-years of age, the Lafite-Rothschild ’89 has a lovely bouquet, quintessential Pauillac with cedar, pencil shavings, bay leaf and tar. The aromatics are very well-defined and melt nicely with aeration though all the time remaining well-knit. The palate is medium-bodied with a svelte, quite seductive entry with hints of blackcurrant wine gums, wild strawberry, cedar and graphite. It has impressive weight in the mouth with a strident, graphite and dried herb finish that lingers wonderful. Simply a wonderful Pauillac at the peak of its powers. Drink now-2025. Tasted December 2010. Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com
Score: 96-/100Neal Martin
On being poured there was real tension in the glass, I felt, between Lafite's delicate style and the big, ripe character of this vintage, warmed as it was by a particularly hot summer, the summer of the bicentenary of the French revolution. There was a slightly burnt note and quite a bit of tannin on the finish. But then it really mellowed in the glass and became super voluptuous. And fragrant. But edgier than the 1997. Unusually spicy for Lafite and wonderfully persistent. These bottles had been bought in 1996 for just £55 each (which probably seemed iniquitous at the time). The 1989 Lafite is now trading at £800 a bottle, a surprisingly low premium on the 1997. Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com
Score: 18.5-/20Jancis Robinson
Subtle, yet rich and decadent, offering meat, sweet berry and fresh leather on the nose. Full and very soft, with velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. This has so much ripe fruit. Reserved and firm, this is turning to a very fine and shy Lafite. This is fresh and structured, but still holding back. I wouldn't wait, though.¿'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2010
Score: 93-/100Wine Spectator
As I suspected, the 1989 and 1990 vintages of Lafite-Rothschild have gone dormant. Both wines were among the more closed, backward examples in my blind tasting. The 1989 Lafite is also outstanding, but closed, with the tannin more elevated, and the wine so stubbornly reticent as to make evaluation almost impossible. Lafite's 1989 was far more easy to taste and understand several years ago. It appears to have gone completely to sleep. 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. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. Feb 1997, www.robertparker.com
Score: 90-/100Robert Parker
