2008 Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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2008
97
Elegant, refined, pure, focused, vibrant, fresh and classic in its nature, it is easy to discern the cedar, tobacco leaf, lead pencil cassis and blackberry nuances, with just a little effort. On the palate, the wine offers refinement and purity, with a silky, yet energetic, bright edge. Give this 12-15 more years to develop. The wine was made from blending 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

Elegant, refined, pure, focused, vibrant, fresh and classic in its nature, it is easy to discern the cedar, tobacco leaf, lead pencil cassis and blackberry nuances, with just a little effort. On the palate, the wine offers refinement and purity, with a silky, yet energetic, bright edge. Give this 12-15 more years to develop. The wine was made from blending 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

4,637 Views   Tasted
I know, baby killer, right? Well, it wasn't my bottle, and I can promise you, I was happy to taste it. Elegant, fresh, polished and right between medium/full bodied, there is a brightness to the cassis that stands out, especially on the palate. Aromatically, tobacco, cigar box, cassis, blackberry and earthy scents abound. This is a very aromatic wine. On the palate, the wine is light on its feet, bright and fresh. There is clearly good length, but it lacks the levels of density found in subsequent vintages like 2009 and 2010. The wine was made from a blend of representing 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Only 40% of the harvest was placed in the Grand Vin. As far as the market goes, it is hard not to recall that the wine was initially offered at $200 per bottle. Due in part to placing the symbol for 8 in Chinese on the bottle, prices shot up to $1,600 per bottle. Today, 2008 Lafite can purchased for about $650 per bottle. A big jump from $200, but a longer fall from its $1,600 peak.

I know, baby killer, right? Well, it wasn't my bottle, and I can promise you, I was happy to taste it. Elegant, fresh, polished and right between medium/full bodied, there is a brightness to the cassis that stands out, especially on the palate. Aromatically, tobacco, cigar box, cassis, blackberry and earthy scents abound. This is a very aromatic wine. On the palate, the wine is light on its feet, bright and fresh. There is clearly good length, but it lacks the levels of density found in subsequent vintages like 2009 and 2010. The wine was made from a blend of representing 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Only 40% of the harvest was placed in the Grand Vin. As far as the market goes, it is hard not to recall that the wine was initially offered at $200 per bottle. Due in part to placing the symbol for 8 in Chinese on the bottle, prices shot up to $1,600 per bottle. Today, 2008 Lafite can purchased for about $650 per bottle. A big jump from $200, but a longer fall from its $1,600 peak.

7,641 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Lafite Rothschild is not a wine to drink on the young side. The wine is usually far too tannic and reserved in its youth. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 3-6 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Lafite Rothschild is usually better with at least 15 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Lafite Rothschild offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15 and 60 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Lafite Rothschild with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau Lafite Rothschild is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Lafite Rothschild is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Lafite Rothschild is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms, and pasta.

Chateau Lafite Rothschild is the most elegantly styled of the three First Growths from Pauillac. But do not confuse the term elegant with light. Chateau Lafite is perhaps the most aromatic of the First Growths as well, with a perfume that fills the air with cedar, cassis, spice, tobacco, truffle, lead pencil, dark, red berries, and earthy notes.

In the best vintages, the wine requires decades to develop to its full potential. Trust me on this, it is worth the wait!

Lafite Rothschild is also involved in several diverse wine investments in countries outside of France. Vina Los Vascos in Chile was their first venture outside of Bordeaux, where they make several red and white wines primarily from Coloagua Chile.

In 1999, they joint ventured with the Catena family in Mendoza, Argentina to produce Bodegas Caro.

Continuing to expand, in 1999, they purchased Domaine d’Aussieres in the Languedoc-Roussillon appellation, located just below the Southern Rhone Valley. Their first move to Asia came in 2011 when they planted vines in the Penglai Peninsula in the Shandong Province in China. The vineyards were planted by Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Since 1995, the DBR group has also produced "The Collection," which is a series of generic, low-priced wines from various Bordeaux appellations sold under the name of Legende.

www.lafite.com