1998 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, Bottle (750ml)

Château Lafite Rothschild is one of Bordeaux's original First Growths, prized less for sheer power than for the precision and restraint that have defined the estate for centuries.

That elegance comes from Lafite's deep gravel and limestone soils in Pauillac, elevated ground that drains exceptionally well and gives the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend its signature finesse and aromatic lift.

1998 was a challenging, imperfect Médoc vintage, but Lafite's team used only 34% of the total harvest for the Grand Vin, a rigorous selection that produced one of the standout successes of the year.

Robert Parker scored the it 98 points, calling it close to perfection, and Neal Martin later tasted it at 20 years old noting it outperformed every other First Growth in the room except Haut-Brion.

Now well over 25 years from harvest, it's settling into the kind of graceful maturity Lafite is known for, while still carrying real structure and years of life ahead.

Robert Parker | 98 Points

"A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, this wine represents only 34% of Lafite's total harvest. In a less than perfect Medoc vintage, it has been spectacular since birth, putting on more weight and flesh over the last year. This opaque purple-colored 1998 is close to perfection. The spectacular nose of lead pencil, smoky, mineral, and black currant fruit soars majestically from the glass. The wine is elegant yet profoundly rich, revealing the essence of Lafite's character. The tannin is sweet, and the wine is spectacularly layered yet never heavy. The finish is sweet, super-rich, yet impeccably balanced and long (50+ seconds). Anticipated maturity: 2007-2035."

Neal Martin | 96 Points

"The 1998 Lafite-Rothschild is served from double magnum directly from the château reserves, in fact with the man who made it sitting opposite me – Charles Chevalier. I must admit to being quite amazed how well this shows at 20-years of age, trouncing all the other First Growths except Haut-Brion. Lucid in colour, it has a vivid bouquet of pure blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and graphite, perhaps just a little uncharacteristically showy in style, but beautifully defined and intense. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe black fruit, perfectly pitched acidity and a silky smooth texture that renders this utterly seductive. It is almost too good for me to recommend cellaring longer. Whatever...it is a sublime Lafite-Rothschild that on this showing, may well challenge the supremacy of the 1996"