Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1990

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, gute Farbtiefe, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. In der Nase feines Cassis, Zwetschken, Tabak und ein Hauch von Trüffel, Rosinen, kandierte Orangen. Am Gaumen stoffig, komplexe Textur, eleganter Körper, präsente, straffe Tannine, rote Kirschenfrucht, etwas Veilchen und Veloursleder, finessenreich und gut anhaltend, feine Beerenfrucht im Nachhall, großes Entwicklungspotenzial, Wirkt immer noch ein wenig scheu, voll nobler Zurückhaltung, und man hat den Eindruck seine Tage sind nicht gekommen, sehr frisch und finessenreich."

WEINWISSER: "Jéroboam. Recht dunkle Farbe mit passenden Reifetönen. Geniales Bouquet, eine berauschende, rostige Süsse vermittelnd, Kirmesmandeln, Cakesfrüchte, Karamell und erste Kräuternoten, im Untergrund Vanillemark und gehackte Dörrpflaumen. Eleganter Gaumen, voller Finessen, eine unbändige, delikate Cabernet-Süsse zeigend, viel Parfüm im Innern. Macht Lust auf einen zweiten Schluck und dies war – dem Grossflaschenformat sei Dank – glücklicherweise auch möglich."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Interestingly, a bottle of 1990 Lafite Rothschild I pulled from my cellar for a video blog on my web site was still buttoned down, tight, and even with extended decanting was not showing as much as I would have hoped. However, a bottle tasted, of all places, in Seoul, Korea in February, was only a few points short of perfection. That amazing performance motivated me to pull another bottle out of my cellar and follow it over the course of two days. Sure enough, by the second day the wine was roaring from the glass. The 1990 Lafite has turned out far better than my early assessment. While it still possesses some firmness, and performs like a late adolescent in terms of its evolution, it boasts gorgeous aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and lead pencil shavings. The explosive aromas are followed by a fleshy, full-bodied wine that should hit its peak in 5-8 years, and last for 25-30 more."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The best example of this wine I have ever tasted was simply beautiful. The dried flowers, cedar, tobacco, and spicy red currant perfumed notes were the perfect introduction. The palate was clearly its equal, as the textures balanced suppleness, with vibrancy, refinement, and elegance, finishing with purity in the red fruits and almost soft, creamy tannins. Just starting to wake up, this is going to age for decades. Drink from 2024-2060."

DECANTER: "This is an elegant, balanced Lafite that remains mouthwatering and juicy on the finish. It is not the most immediately impressive of the 1990 firsts, but then when does Lafite ever try to shout the loudest? Instead, it is all about a quiet but relentless building of layers, with brambled black fruits, graphite, cold ash and soft leather alongside a spicier rosemary and clove edging. Gilbert Rokvam was the technical director at this time, working with owner Baron Eric de Rothschild. Harvest began on September 13, and the scorching summer temperatures were compared by the property to 1947 and 1949. Drinking Window 2021 - 2038"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Dark ruby. Lively, fresh and transparent at first with the soaraway refined scent of a Lafite. Then it took on the typical concentrated rich and velvety character of a fine 1990. Long. Impressive."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Very serious fruit, with juicy berry, tobacco and cedar character. Slightly more body than the 1989, but they are very close in character. I would give this a little more time. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Best after 2007. 25,000 cases made."