Beschreibung:

Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1982
LAFITE-ROTHSCHIILD The name Lafite comes from the Gascon language term "la hite", which means "hillock". The estate is situated at the northern end of Pauillac, close to Cos d'Estournel which is just over the border in St.-Estephe. The vineyard consists of three major areas: the hillsides around the Château, the adjacent Carruades plateau to the west, and 4.5 hectares in neighboring Saint Estephe (which is entitled to the Pauillac appellation). The well-drained soils are deep fine gravel up to 4 metres deep mixed with Aeolian sands on a bedrock of tertiary limestone. The 107 hectares of vines are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (70, Merlot (25, Cabernet Franc (3 and Petit Verdot (2. The average age of the vines 35 years, although vines younger than 10 years old are not used in the Grand Vin. 18 hectares of vines are more than 50 years old and the oldest plot, called "La Gravière", is over 120 years old, having been planted in 1886. Normally the final blend of the Grand Vin is assembled from Cabernet Sauvignon (representing between 80 to 95, Merlot (between 5 to 20, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (between 0 to 5, however this depends on the vintage, for example the 1961 was produced from 100 Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate is run by a team overseen by Technical Director Charles Chevallier Only minimal interventions of fertilizers are used. Yields are kept low and harvesting is done by hand in approximately 12 days by up to 350 pickers. Grapes are sorted in the vineyard before being brought in to the two reception bays where different plots are vinifed separately. Fermentation takes place half in traditional oak vats which are equipped with computerized temperature control with maceration on the skins for between 18 and 25 days. Malolactic fermentation also takes place in vats before the wine is transferred into 100 new oak barriques (the estate produces its own barrels in their cooperage) where it remains for between 18 to 20 months until bottling after regular rackings and fining with egg whites. Lafite is renowned for its finesse and subtlety and is often considered as more accessible young than a Chteau Latour or Mouton Rothschild, as Stephen Brook in his book, The Complete Bordeaux summarized; "for elegance choose Lafite." Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1982 Pauillac, 1er cru classé Levels: six botton neck, four very top shoulder, two top shoulder; two very lightly corroded capsules at top; four very lightly tissue stained labels In original wooden case Eventually a triumph. On decanting and for two and a half hours later, the wine was big and smoky, with ripe fruit, a rather burnt nose, and firm, grippy tannins. With time a softer, riper plum and fig fruit character arose and the smoky, burnt aromas took a backseat, along with cedary lead pencil notes. On the palate in time the tannins softened as well, providing a lush, rich, velvety drink just in time for the steak." CC, December 2009 at a Christie's dinner.