Dark ruby-red. Sappy, expressive aromas of cherry, plum, minerals, woodsmoke and game, plus an exotic suggestion of baked apple. Rather subtle on the attack, then quickly expands to fill the mouth. A big, deep, very rich vintage for Lafite, unusually generous at this early stage and extremely long on the aftertaste. But went into a shell with aeration, and showed a hint of tobacco leaf vegetility. Finishing notes of coconut, woodsmoke and tobacco add flavor interest.

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Blaickish ruby with hardly any suggestion of ageing. That very refined lift of Lafite on the nose – oyster shells? Very elegant indeed – no dry tannins. Complete and with enough juice. A very fine Lafite. Lovely graphite finish – sinewy. No heaviness at all. And the tannins are SO well managed!

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The 1995 Lafite-Rothschild (only one-third of the harvest made it into the final blend) is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. The wine was showing spectacularly well when I tasted it in November, 1997. It exhibits a dark ruby purple color, and a sweet, powdered mineral, smoky, weedy cassis-scented nose. Beautiful sweetness of fruit is present in this medium-bodied, tightly-knit, but gloriously pure, well-delineated Lafite. The 1995 is not as powerful or as massive as the 1996, but it is beautifully made with outstanding credentials, in addition to remarkable promise.

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Here's the best Lafite in ages. It's a polished Bordeaux, extremely sophisticated and harmonious, with blackberry, dark chocolate and olive aromas. Full-bodied and very silky, with a lovely fruity chocolate aftertaste. Needs cellaring, but who can wait? 20,000 cases made.

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Ruby with a slight hint of tawny at side. Medium colour? (tasted in cellar). Strong and prominent herbal, tobacco and caramel aroma. Little fruit indeed. Smooth tannin and good balance of acidity. Start to become ready and long way to improve. Initial with hint of chocolate, then hint of mineral on the palate, then followed by tobacco and cigar aftertaste. Long in the mouth! Intresting with full body and lots of complexity.