Lafite Rothschild 1982

Pauillac, First Growth

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Tasting Notes
Rather bluer than the Latour 1982. Quite a youthful looking crimson. Lightish very mineral nose without that much evolution. Very delicate mouthfeel. No observable tannin until the very, very end of the palate. Very fresh and delicate and somehow 'pointed'. Not heavy with a little bit of acidity but all in all closer to the Latour than in most vintages. Dry finish. Score: 18 - 19 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2004-2028 25 November 2010
This is a denser version of the 1990 that stylistically reminds me of what the young 1959 probably tasted like. Still backward with a deep ruby/plum color revealing only a touch of lightening at the edge, the wine offers up an extraordinary nose of caramelized herbs, smoke, cedar, pen ink, black currants, and earth. The gorgeous aromatics are followed by a full-bodied, plump, rich, fleshy wine with low acidity. With 6-8 hours decanting in a closed decanter, it will offer beautiful drinking, but it needs another 5-8 years to reach full maturity. It is capable of lasting 50-60 years. This classic Lafite is not as fat and concentrated as the 1982 Latour, nor as complex or concentrated as the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but it is a winner all the same. Release price: ($350.00/case) Score: 97 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2074 01 June 2009
The 1982 Lafite possesses a dark, dense ruby/purple color with only a subtle lightening at the rim. Spectacular aromatics offer jammy cherry and black fruits intertwined with lead pencil, mineral, and smoky wood scents. Powerful for a Lafite, this wine unfolds to reveal extraordinary richness, purity, and overall symmetry in addition to stunning flavor depth and persistence. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Plenty of tannin remains, and the wine displays a vibrancy and youthfulness that belie its 18 years of age. The modern day equivalent of Lafite-Rothschild's immortal 1959, the 1982 will enjoy another 30-70 years of life! An amazing achievement! Score: 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2007-2070 30 June 2000
Still extraordinarily backward and youthful, this large-scaled (massive by Lafite's standards) wine should prove to be the greatest Lafite made after the 1953 and 1959. It continues to offer an exceptionally intense, compelling bouquet of herbs, black currants, vanilla, lead pencil, and cedar. The wine reveals considerable tannin, as well as amazing, atypical power and concentration for Lafite. The hallmark elegance of this wine has not been compromised because of the vintage's tendency to turn out powerful and unctuously-textured, thick, juicy wines. Rich, full, and still youthful and unyielding, this should prove to be a fabulous Lafite-Rothschild - but only for those readers prepared to wait until 2003-2005. It should easily last through the first three decades of the next century. Score: 100 Robert Parker, 'Bordeaux' 3rd Ed. Maturity: 2003-2030 01 January 1998
Good full, deep red. Slightly high-toned, highly nuanced nose of currant, roasted meat, cedar, marzipan, smoke and tobacco. Supple on entry, then firmed by sound acids. Still quite unevolved but seems distinctly less deep than the bottle of '59 I tasted alongside it. A rather muscular style of Lafite, finishing with big, tongue-dusting tannins. My second bottle showed a darker red-ruby color; higher-pitched aromas of redcurrant, cedar, orange peel and coconut; a bright, very tight palate impression, with strong acidity contributing to the impression of steely spine; and a very subtle and very long, firmly tannic finish. This bottle seemed even less evolved than the first sample. (95+ points) Score: 95 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar Maturity: 2005-2030 01 July 2002
Dark ruby red. Mineral, berry and mint. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. A silky, seductive wine. Score: 94 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 30 June 2001
Dark ruby red. Mineral, berry and mint. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. A silky, seductive wine.--Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now. Score: 94 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 30 June 2001

Tasting Notes

Rather bluer than the Latour 1982. Quite a youthful looking crimson. Lightish very mineral nose without that much evolution. Very delicate mouthfeel. No observable tannin until the very, very end of the palate. Very fresh and delicate and somehow 'pointed'. Not heavy with a little bit of acidity but all in all closer to the Latour than in most vintages. Dry finish.

Score: 18 - 19

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2004-2028 25 November 2010

This is a denser version of the 1990 that stylistically reminds me of what the young 1959 probably tasted like. Still backward with a deep ruby/plum color revealing only a touch of lightening at the edge, the wine offers up an extraordinary nose of caramelized herbs, smoke, cedar, pen ink, black currants, and earth. The gorgeous aromatics are followed by a full-bodied, plump, rich, fleshy wine with low acidity. With 6-8 hours decanting in a closed decanter, it will offer beautiful drinking, but it needs another 5-8 years to reach full maturity. It is capable of lasting 50-60 years. This classic Lafite is not as fat and concentrated as the 1982 Latour, nor as complex or concentrated as the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but it is a winner all the same. Release price: ($350.00/case)

Score: 97

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2074 01 June 2009

The 1982 Lafite possesses a dark, dense ruby/purple color with only a subtle lightening at the rim. Spectacular aromatics offer jammy cherry and black fruits intertwined with lead pencil, mineral, and smoky wood scents. Powerful for a Lafite, this wine unfolds to reveal extraordinary richness, purity, and overall symmetry in addition to stunning flavor depth and persistence. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Plenty of tannin remains, and the wine displays a vibrancy and youthfulness that belie its 18 years of age. The modern day equivalent of Lafite-Rothschild's immortal 1959, the 1982 will enjoy another 30-70 years of life! An amazing achievement!

Score: 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2007-2070 30 June 2000

Still extraordinarily backward and youthful, this large-scaled (massive by Lafite's standards) wine should prove to be the greatest Lafite made after the 1953 and 1959. It continues to offer an exceptionally intense, compelling bouquet of herbs, black currants, vanilla, lead pencil, and cedar. The wine reveals considerable tannin, as well as amazing, atypical power and concentration for Lafite. The hallmark elegance of this wine has not been compromised because of the vintage's tendency to turn out powerful and unctuously-textured, thick, juicy wines. Rich, full, and still youthful and unyielding, this should prove to be a fabulous Lafite-Rothschild - but only for those readers prepared to wait until 2003-2005. It should easily last through the first three decades of the next century.

Score: 100

Robert Parker, 'Bordeaux' 3rd Ed. Maturity: 2003-2030 01 January 1998

Good full, deep red. Slightly high-toned, highly nuanced nose of currant, roasted meat, cedar, marzipan, smoke and tobacco. Supple on entry, then firmed by sound acids. Still quite unevolved but seems distinctly less deep than the bottle of '59 I tasted alongside it. A rather muscular style of Lafite, finishing with big, tongue-dusting tannins. My second bottle showed a darker red-ruby color; higher-pitched aromas of redcurrant, cedar, orange peel and coconut; a bright, very tight palate impression, with strong acidity contributing to the impression of steely spine; and a very subtle and very long, firmly tannic finish. This bottle seemed even less evolved than the first sample. (95+ points)

Score: 95

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar Maturity: 2005-2030 01 July 2002

Dark ruby red. Mineral, berry and mint. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. A silky, seductive wine.

Score: 94

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 30 June 2001

Dark ruby red. Mineral, berry and mint. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. A silky, seductive wine.--Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.

Score: 94

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 30 June 2001

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