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Thursday 13th May 2019
The most sought-after wine in Asia, Lafite still trades at a premium to the other First Growths and the 2018 sees the Chateau on top form (98-100 WA, 99-100 JS, 98-100 Dec). Released at £3000 per 6, it is cheaper than the current prices of comparable vintages 2005 (£3700), 2009 (£3625), 2010 (£3675) and 2016 (£3075). Volumes are limited (down 30% on last year), please let us know ASAP if you are interested in an allocation and we will do our best.
98-100 WA "If this wine doesn’t get Bordeaux lovers hearts' racing, nothing will."
99-100 JS "Delicacy with power. Richness with softness. Glamorous. Lasts for minutes at the finish."
98-100 Dec "the precision, the freshness and the sense of effortless elegance that Lafite always conveys... Is it better than the 2016? It’s hard to say at this stage but it certainly feels its equal"
99-100 JS "This is incredibly powerful with fantastic depth and length. It goes on for minutes. Full-bodied yet so tight and intense. Blackberries and hints of spice. It has such energy and persistence. It is a wine that makes you really reflect. Bravo. Tiny production."
96-98 JD "One of the true “wow” wines in the vintage"
95-98 AG "A wine of real gravitas and power"
The prestigious Pomerol from the Lafite stable, Chateau l'Evangile is released at £1100 per 6. Production is down 60% and the seductive 2018 includes a higher than usual proprtion of Cabernet Franc (20%) in the final blend due to the exceptional quality this year.
97-99 WA "seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Beautiful."
98-99 JS "fantastic depth. It’s so caressing and beautiful."
94-97 AG "The 2018 L'Évangile is shaping up to be exceptional... a sumptuous, racy Évangile loaded with class and personality. I can't wait to taste it from bottle."
Chateau Ausone and the second wine Chapelle d'Ausone were also released this morning but sold out straight away. Please let us know if you would like to be added to the waiting list.
Prices
EGLISE CLINET | £1308 per 6x75
99-100 JS - This is incredibly powerful with fantastic depth and length. It goes on for minutes. Full-bodied yet so tight and intense. Blackberries and hints of spice. It has such energy and persistence. It is a wine that makes you really reflect. Bravo. Tiny production.
EVANGILE | £1100 per 6x75
97-99 WA - The 2018 L'Evangile is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc... This is the optimal blend—with more Cabernet Franc coming through this year, since it was amazing. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slips seductively out of the glass with glamorous notes of baked black cherries, warm blueberries and raspberry tart plus wafts of kirsch, red roses, rose hip tea, espresso, licorice and sandalwood. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and delivering opulent black fruit layers, the palate has a firm frame of lovely, ripe, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Beautiful.
LAFITE ROTHSCHILD | £3000 per 6x75
98-100 WA - It has a deep purple-black color and then WOW—what a nose. It comes sashaying out of the glass with bags of grace and perfume, revealing notions of lilacs, red roses, fragrant soil, cinnamon stick and Morello cherries with a core of blackcurrant cordial, fresh black plums, redcurrant jelly and tapenade plus a waft of iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful, tightly wound layers of black, red and blue fruits intermingled with floral, earth and mineral notions and a rock-solid frame of the most finely pixelated tannins you can possibly imagine. Anyone who wants to see what I mean when I babble about the Lafite tannins needs to try this benchmark. The finish goes on, and on, and on. If this wine doesn’t get Bordeaux lovers hearts' racing, nothing will.
En Primeur
Wines available In Bond UK Summer 2021.
For more information or to place an order, please call on 01223 849040 or email us (finewine@albanyvintners.com)