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  • Country ranking ?

    403
  • Producer ranking ?

    18
  • Decanting time

    1h.30min
  • When to drink

    Now-2025
  • Food Pairing

    Honey Soy Venison

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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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Wine Information

The decade culminated with the hot year of 1949, when Bordeaux was hit by an unprecedented dry spell. Cold, rainy weather had hindered germination, which resulted in an exceptionally uneven distribution of pollen. This, in turn, made for a record small crop. With the arrival of summer, Bordeaux was subjected to a heat wave the likes of which it had never seen before. Temperatures as high as 43°C were recorded at Médoc.  Early September brought...

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Vintage 1949

In Bordeaux, the decade culminated in the hot year of 1949, when Bordeaux was hit by an unprecedented period of drought. Cold, rainy weather had hampered germination, resulting in an exceptionally uneven distribution of pollen. This, in turn, led to a record harvest. With the arrival of summer, Bordeaux was subjected to a heatwave like it had never seen before. Temperatures of up to 43°C have been recorded in Médoc. Early September brought mas...

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Average Bottle Price

2023 2020 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2005 2000
1 640€ +13.1% 1 450€ -4.0% 1 511€ +3.6% 1 459€ +39.8% 1 044€ +5.6% 989€ -22.6% 1 277€ -10.8% 1 432€ -13.4% 1 654€ -50.3% 3 328€ +317.0% 798€ +47.0% 543€

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.

Latest Pro-tasting notes

19 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Deep, Ruby red and Bright

ending

Endless, Extensive, Pure and Sharp

flavors

Blackcurrant, Vanilla, Tobacco, Mineral, Chocolate and Toasty

nose

Intense, Refined, Rich and Ripe

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Warming, Perfectly balanced, Multi-dimensional, Balanced, Mature, Full-bodied, Elegant, Silky, Round and Drying tannins

Verdict

Masterpiece and Intelligent

Written Notes

That was it for the whites; yes, it is still a red, red world, although I am a big consumer of white wines personally. We began with Bordeaux; a debate would ensue the next night about Bordeaux before Burgundy or Burgundy before Bordeaux, but on this night we went South to North. A 1949 Lafite Rothschild was a little weedy and musty but classic underneath. It was a gentle giant with classic pencil aromas and tender tea flavors. This was a wine enjoying its retirement, although affected by the cork (93A).
  • 93p

The bottle of 1949 Lafite-Rothschild was reconditioned at the property in 1989, and although featherweight compared to the 1949 Latour, it is a wonderful mature Pauillac. Clear in color, the 1949 has a tuile core commensurate with its age. It delivers an ethereal, transparent bouquet with red cherry, meat juices, cedar and pine trees, all beautifully defined and with exquisite detail, if never a powerful set of aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, perfectly judged acidity, lighter in style than other 1949s but with a beguiling pretty, slightly savory finish with black truffle shaved over the aftertaste. This is a classic and quite understated Lafite-Rothschild that steps aside and allows Mouton-Rothschild and Latour to take all the accolades. Tasted at the Lafite-Rothschild dinner at Amuse Bouche in Hong Kong.

  • 92p

Tasted in March 2019 during dinner at Domaine de Chevalier. Still keeping up well with time passing by with pure elegance, finesse and sophisticated touch. Captivating sweetness. Refined and with velvety aftertaste. A real, real treat to experience! 

  • 96p
Light colour. Like the 1945 it has the characteristic nose of dried roses and cold tea. It is a beautiful, charming wine with a delicate lingering sweetness. It needs drinking as it is starting to show some age. However it will age very gracefully if stored well.
  • 96p
Und dann war da dieser schier unglaubliche 1949 Lafite Rothschild aus einer 1983 neu verkorkten Flasche. Den hatte ich noch nie auch nur annähernd so gut im Glas. Ein kompletter, großer, finessiger und stimmiger Lafite mit aristokratischer Struktur, sehr mineralisch mit feiner Süße und endlosem Abgang. Der bekam von der kompletten Runde die Maximalwertung, klare WT100. Ein Traumflight war das, der so manche Weinuntiefe, durch die wir durch mussten, vergessen ließ.
  • 100p
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Information

Origin

Pauillac, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Outstanding

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

Very Good

Fake factory

There is a possibility

Glass time

2h

Drinking temperature

16
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