Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Lafite
Label Name:
 
Pauillac 1er Cru (ex Château 2022)
Vintage:
 
1996
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Pauillac, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Method:
 
Hand-harvested; plot-by-plot fermentation with 18–25 day maceration; malolactic in vats; matured ~18–20 months in predominantly new oak barriques (estate cooperage), fined and bottled at the château.
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
5
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18
Tasting Note:
 
Concentrated blackcurrant and ripe dark fruits with pencil-lead, cedar, tobacco and graphite notes; powerful yet refined, firm grainy tannins and a long, mineral-driven finish with developing leather and savory complexity.
Food Pairing:
 
Western: roast lamb, prime rib, venison, aged cheeses (Comté, Manchego). Asian: Peking duck, Cantonese roast pork, char siu, rich Korean BBQ, mushroom and soy-braised dishes.
Vineyard Info:
 
Château Lafite Rothschild, a Pauillac First Growth owned by the Rothschild family since 1868. Renowned for gravel soils, Cabernet dominance, finesse and long cellaring potential; estate vineyards average mature vine age and low yields.
Awards/Ratings:
 
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 100 points (Issue #122, April 1999); lauded by Decanter and major critics; frequently offered and highly valued at major auction houses (Christie’s, Sotheby’s)