Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1998

Chateau Lafite Rothschild was concerned that the rainy harvest might dash their high hopes founded with the early blossoming, dry spring and scorching August. That turned out not to be the case. There was no rainfall until the harvest had already begun. The grapes were thus moistened but not penetrated, so maybe they can consider that divine intervention.

Once the first tanks had been worked, analyzed, and tasted, weary expressions changed to satisfied smiles. This vintage reflects the strength of our soil, with its deep colour and woody, fruity, and spicy palate. The "98" may be preserved for a very long time, and is rich and full with a silky and long finish.

Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot

98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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.

95 Points - Wine Spectator

Amazing aromas of crushed blackberries, toasted oak and currant, spices. Really a great nose. Full-bodied, with round and velvety tannins and a long, long finish. It lasts for minutes on the palate. Superb. Best wine of the Médoc, without a doubt.

94 Points - Decanter

Easy vintage until September, when conditions in the Medoc particularly became humid, which meant accelerating the harvest (it was one of those years when Lafite benefitted enormously from its ability to ramp up a bigger-than-expected team of pickers). Salin still calls this a lunch wine, because of its supple freshness, its balance that would work so perfectly with food.The vintage was a showcase for Bordeaux on the Right Bank, where it was considered great from the start. The Medoc and Graves were less well received at the time, but are ripe for rediscovering now. This still has a lovely deep ruby red colour, and on both the nose and palate you are getting to secondary aromas, a walk in the forest, mushrooms, cedars, heather, game – these are flavours you just don’t get in young wines, and amply reward the patience of holding bottles back. The surprise, and the Lafite signature, comes in its vibrancy, in its huge persistency and in the lift on the finish.