1971 Château Lafite Rothschild
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Tasting notes
Certainly noted more for education than enjoyment, the 1971 Château Lafite is tired and evolved, yet still has some redeeming sweet fruit, medium body, and moderate length on the finish. Drink up.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 1971 Lafite-Rothschild, a wine I have encountered three times, is not a great success for the estate. Rather old and musty on the nose, with faint cigar-box aromas, and fruit that appears to have receded many years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with pretty dour vestiges of black fruit, a little fleshiness towards the finish, but clearly lacking substance at the end. It cannot hold a torch to the 1971 Latour. Tasted at dinner at home – bottle from personal collection.
A disappointment for Lafite, the 1971 has always tasted flat, is quite brown in color, with a stewed, slightly dirty, rusty, nondescript bouquet suggesting a poor elevage (the French term for bringing up the wine). Now close to its demise, this wine is of no value except to those who care only for labels. Last tasted, 11/82.
A disappointment for Lafite, the 1971 has always tasted flat, is quite brown in color, with a stewed, slightly dirty, rusty, nondescript bouquet suggesting a poor elevage (the French term for bringing up the wine). Now close to its demise, this wine is of no value except to those who care only for labels. Last tasted, 11/82. Jan 1998, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
Ch. Lafite Rothschild is one of the most famous wine estates in Bordeaux and the world. One of the Left Bank’s five First Growths, the Pauillac property is renowned for producing wines of finesse and elegance that age beautifully.