x
  • Country ranking ?

    1 348
  • Producer ranking ?

    72
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    Now-2025
  • Food Pairing

    Lamb with aubergines

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

Close

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...

Close

Vintage 1966

1966 was an exceptional year in Bordeaux for very classic and delicate wines. However, the year started off as anything but promising. The main rainfall that began in late June continued into July, but the hot start to August dried out the soil and the weather gradually improved towards autumn, until it is almost perfect for harvest.

These wines share a truly classic, graceful and high quality character so typical of Bordeaux wines, making ...

Close

Tasting note

Be the first one to make a 20s tasting note!

Written Notes

The 1966 Lafite-Rothschild is a wine that I have tasted twice before and it remains one of my favorite vintages from the period, even though as the Four Seasons First Growth dinner illustrated, not every bottle hits the spot. This bottle in Hong Kong ranks amongst the best that I have ever encountered. I notice quite wide bricking on the rim but it is clear in color. The bouquet is gentle, clean and pure, almost Burgundy-like in style: a divine perfume that might lack the horsepower of the 1966 Latour, yet is classically styled and disarmingly detailed. The palate is medium-bodied, with a satisfying weight in the mouth. Self-aware that it does not have to exert too much to satisfy, the 1966 delivers an entrancing piquancy toward the finish. It benefits from aeration, gaining weight and density and after a couple of hours in the glass, it is overflowing with vigor and tension, whilst upholding its classical personality. It is just a beguiling old school Pauillac, no more, no less. Tasted at the Lafite-Rothschild dinner at Amuse Bouche in Hong Kong.

  • 94p

Clive Coates: "Very good vigorous full colour. Much more vigorous that the 1970. Much richer and more stylish too. Very elegant fruit on the nose. On the palate this also shows a little age, like the 1967 and 1970. But it is the richest, ripest and plumpest of the three. Good concentrated fruit. Fatter than the 1970. Much more elegance. Long but not that intense or concentrated. Very good indeed, but not a great 1966.

Load more notes

Information

Origin

Pauillac, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Good

Investment potential

No Potential

Fake factory

None

Glass time

1h
Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

Insight Member

 
Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

Insight Member

  Register