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  • Country ranking ?

    1 161
  • Producer ranking ?

    57
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now to 2025
  • Food Pairing

    Turbot à la truffe

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The Story

The Château Lafite estate run by the Rothschilds is, with its 100 hectares of cultivated land, the largest of the main Pauillac vineyards.

It is located in the highest part of the area and the view from its château, with its conical towers that appear on the label, takes in the banks of the River Gironde, which flows nearby. The wines are a blend of four different varieties of grape – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Cabernet F...

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Vintage 1983

Bordeaux / If 1981 was forgotten after 1982, the 1983 was completely overshadowed by 1982, although the harvest was large and of high quality everywhere in Bordeaux. Too much humidity brought about by heavy rains impeded production in many places. In Margaux, some of the wines were even better than in 1982. For example, Château Margaux announced that their 1983 surpassed the 1982. One of the best-ever Palmers was Palmer 1983.

The best wine ...

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Average Bottle Price

2023 2020 2015
490€ +10.6% 443€ +38.4% 320€

This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.

Tasting note

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Written Notes

Château Lafite 1983. Ruby, thin brick rim. Scented, lovely depth, bright, nuanced, floral, layered, beautiful nose, ripe yet very low tuned in a way, refined and discreet. 
Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, blackberries, some spices, detailed and layered, balanced, such finesse, long finish. Superb!
 

  • 96p

A cold and wet spring, during which the vine fell behind. But as from June came one of those miraculous summers that make the greatest vintages. Around the September equinox, storms brought fears of rot, because the grapes had suddenly swollen and we were worried that the skins would burst, especially for the Merlot. Bacchus, however, merciful to the winegrowers, sent them a magnificent period of weather, allowing for a dream harvest without a rainy day, which lasted from 30 September until after mid October.
The first of a trio of wines – 1983, 1985 and 1986 – served blind. Struck by a leafiness on the nose that I associate with some of the less successful 1985s at this stage in their lives I foolishly plumped for 1985 when it was clearly the least impressive of the trio and I had no memory of Lafite 1983. The wine was certainly polished, light sweet and open – and now a bit skinny. There are probably enough pointers there too have steered me to 1983 but the most recent 1983 I tasted was Ch Margaux which was of course famously successful in this vintage. This Lafite 1983 was pretty but was losing fruit. It had Lafite class but needed drinking.

  • 90p

The 1983 Lafite-Rothschild is a vintage that I used to taste regularly, but now, not for a few years. I love it whilst my neighbor is less impressed, that being Saskia de Rothschild. "What a lovely Lafite!" I exclaim trying to persuade her and failing miserably. Blackberry, melted tar, a touch of truffle mixed with dried blood, secondary aromas lending real complexity and personality. The palate is underpinned by a crisp line of acidity, touches of tobacco, morels and smoke emerging towards the second half. I am impressed by its energy after 35-years and the persistence on the finish. It always was one of the best First Growth behind Château Margaux and I suspect that remains the case. Tasted at the Lafite-Rothschild 150th anniversary dinner at the estate.

  • 94p

Finally, the 1983 is beginning to shed its tannin. The wine exhibits a deep ruby/garnet color with only a slight lightening at the edge. The intoxicatingly perfumed nose of lead pencil, pain grille, red and black fruits, minerals, and roasted herbs is provocative.. In the mouth, it displays considerable body, plenty of power and afleshy, sweet, rich midpalate. Long, elegant, plump, and surprisingly fleshy, this outstanding example of Lafite seems largely forgotten given the number of high-quality vintages during the golden decade of the eighties. Anticipated maturity: now-2030

  • 93p
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Information

Origin

Pauillac, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Poor

Investment potential

No Potential

Fake factory

None

Glass time

1h
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