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Viinin Kuvailu
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 Franc. Lafite matures slightly earlier than other Premier Cru wines in the region on account of the generous amounts of Merlot used, and it is this that also makes the wine more delicate and subtle than those wines which are completely dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Lafite has a soul, a beautiful, generous, kindly soul. Lafite turns bare earth into heaven. Lafite is harmony, a harmony between man and nature, because without our magnificent winegrowers, nothing would be accomplished.”
Baron Eric de Rothschild
Of the five Premier Cru wines in the region, Château Lafite to my mind has managed to produce the year’s best wine in many of the top years in 1900th centrury. The times I have spent in the company of a 1934, 1953, 1959, 1982 and 1986 have been unforgettable. And it was then that I always remembered how many wine critics fondly describe Lafite as ‘the perfection of elegance’.
Vineyard soil: fine gravel mixed with aeolien sands on a bedrock of tertiary limestone
Production area: 103 ha
Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (71%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%)
Average age of vines: 30 years
Harvest method: hand picked
Winemaking: the vinification is nowadays done with all the sophisticated instruments which modern oenology has created. Fermentation takes place in large oak vats in which the musts remain for 18 to 25 days.
Ageing: the wines are aged entirely in new barrels for 18 to 24 months. During this time,the wine is racked 7 times and is fined with the whites of 6 eggs per barrel. Only certain vats are selected to make the Grand Vin, Lafite. The others are used to make the second wine of Lafite, the “Carruades de Lafite”.
Vuosikerta 1921
The weather conditions in Bordeaux during the 1921 growing season were instrumental in shaping the extraordinary character of the vintage. The year began with a mild winter, followed by a warm and dry spring. Summer brought ideal conditions, with consistent sunshine and warm temperatures, allowing the grapes to ripen fully. The harvest took place under clear skies, resulting in grapes of exceptional quality.
Bordeaux 1921 Reds: The best red wines of Bordeaux from the 1921 vintage are considered excelent and have achieved iconic status among collectors and wine enthusiasts, especially the ones from Left Bank.
Appearance: The 1921 Bordeaux reds typically exhibit a deep garnet color with little sign of aging, showcasing their remarkable longevity.
Nose: On the nose, the 1921 Bordeaux reds offer a complex and alluring bouquet of dried fruits, cedar, tobacco, leather, and hints of truffle. The aromatic profile is a testament to the exceptional ripeness and concentration of the grapes.
Palate: In the mouth, the 1921 Bordeaux reds are marked by their remarkable depth, concentration, and structure. The tannins, having aged gracefully, provide a velvety and luxurious mouthfeel. The wines maintain a refreshing acidity, contributing to their longevity. Flavors of dried cherries, blackcurrants, and nuances of spice and tobacco intermingle harmoniously, creating a profound and enduring finish.
