Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2004

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkles Violett-Granat, schwarze Reflexe. Dichtes, komplexes Bouquet, viel Edelholznoten, Mahagoni, Teakholz, Trüffel, Korinthen, Rauch, tiefgründig wie ein Latour, von den Grundaromen her eher auf der Terroirseite, dahinter die grossartige, in diesem Jahrgang sehr schwer wirkende, typische Lafite-Süsse zeigend. Im Gaumen grossartig, viel Tanninreichtum mit Gerbstoffen voller Finessen, sehr vielschichtig, alle Fruchtkomponenten im blau- bis schwarzbeerigen Bereich liegend, tolle Länge. Ein klassischer Lafite mit einer bestechenden Geradlinigkeit. Im Stil ein 1985er plus."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Yes, there is power to this wine. But more than that, it exudes authority; a dense and solid wine with an impressive presence and texture. It has a velvet mouthfeel: the tannins are dusty and mineral, alongside fruit flavors of ripe black plums and dark figs, leavened with fresh acidity. The potential, of course, is there: 20 years if you can wait."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2004 Lafite-Rothschild appears to be another late-bloomer in the sense that this 12-year-old bottle is the best I have tasted, implying an upward swing in quality. It has a wondrous bouquet, very sensual and pure with blackberry, graphite and cedar - all the hallmarks of Pauillac, delivered with great panache. It is more opulent than I recall. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, pitch-perfect acidity and a beautiful structure. There is a regal sense to this Lafite, understated compared to the other First Growths and yet the persistence on the finish deserves a round of applause, especially in the context of the vintage. This is superb and could possibly turn out to be the pick of the Firsts. Tasted September 2016."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "If you prefer your elegance and refined character-filled wines on the young, buy reaching adolescent side, where the fruit, with its trail of tobacco leaf, cedar, cigar box, lead pencil, and salty rocks is just starting to fold into the secondary stage, you came to the right place. While another 5-10 years will really bring this to center stage, due to its forward style, this is starting to work in your glass."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Farbkern, violette Reflexe. In der Nase intensive Anklänge an Waldbeeren und Orangen, dazu etwas Nougat und Marzipan, attraktive jugendliche Gewürznote. Am Gaumen stoffig und frisch strukturiert, zeigt präsente, feste Tannine, dennoch bereits harmonisch, angenehme Zwetschkenfrucht, Brombeergelee im Nachhall, ein Wein mit einer guten Textur, hat sicheres Reifepotenzial. ! Lagern +30 Jahre"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep garnet. Marked and attractive herbaceous freshness on the nose. Even a touch of capsicum. Very little tertiary character showing. Similar on the palate, really quite cedary and herbaceous – not unripe but quite the opposite of super-ripe. But all this adds up to great freshness, tannins that are fine and dry, and a long, dry yet rather gentle persistence."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Intense aromas of currant, coffee, toasty oak and sweet tobacco follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins, great mouthfeel and a long finish. A refined Lafite. Best after 2012. 22,080 cases made."