Chateau Lafite Rothschild - Pauillac 1986 (750ml)

100

Price: $950.00

Producer	Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Country	France
Region	Bordeaux
Subregion	Pauillac
Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage	1986
Sku	111780
Size	750ml

Jane Anson: 100 Points

Janson Anson, Inside Bordeaux: "The tannins remain evident, fully in tact, and overall this 1986 is young, profound, full of spiced herbs and freshly turned-over earth. It needs time in the bottle or carafe, because although there is more evident charm in the 1985 on first opening, this is the vintage of the pair that will be around for the longest. Dense black fruits abound, along with cigar box, black tea and slate. In its youth it was described as tannic, solid, almost austere, and it is astonishing how it has kept that character over the decades. There are still nuaces here that will be revealed over the decades to come, so be sure to give it time to unwind if you are opening any time over the next decade. 45hl/h yield. The famous Ricardo Bofill circular cellar was under construction at this point." 06/21

Wine Advocate: 100 Points

"Tasted at the château the 1986 Lafite-Rothschild continues to offer an exquisite bouquet at 30 years of age. This is beautifully defined still full of energy with copious blackberry clove leather and graphite aromas that seem to gain momentum in the glass. The palate is extremely well balanced with a crystalline quality filigree tannin perfectly pitched acidity a quintessential Lafite-Rothschild with a sense of energy and focus undiminished by time. This finish displays immense purity and refinement one of the most mineral-driven Lafites that I have encountered whilst the aftertaste seems to linger for over one minute. It must rank as one of the finest wines from the estate. Tasted July 2016." -Neal Martin

Vinous: 96 Points

Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 1986 Lafite-Rothschild is a great wine although over several recent encounters it is never a convincing "perfect" wine. This mirrors the bottle I tasted at the property in 2016: blackberry and graphite on the nose, gawky at first, but coalescing with time. The palate is well balanced with firm tannins, strong graphite scents unfolding with time, superb energy if not delivering quite the finesse and precision that the very best Lafite-Rothschild will bestow. This is a wine that benefits from long decanting, say five or six hours, though it never quite reaches the ethereal heights that it could have done. Tasted at the International Business & Wine First Growth Dinner at the Four Seasons. (Drink between 2020-2050)." 7/18

Decanter: 94 Points

Charles Curtis, MW, Decanter: "The wine seems fully mature, more so than the '89 (or the '82, tasted recently, but not for this vertical). The aromas were savoury roast meat, black plum, fig, and prune touched with smoke, coffee, and truffle. The texture was dense and extraordinarily tannic. The finish was long, and there was a touch of soy sauce right at the end. The 1986 vintage featured a dry spring followed by a hot summer, but there were small, sporadic rain showers that meant the grapes did not suffer drought stress. At Lafite the final blend was 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot. (Drink between 2022-2042)" 03/22