Description

Château Lafite Rothschild heads the 1855 Classification and has belonged to the Rothschild family since 1868. On the deep gravel of northern Pauillac, Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend, with Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

The vintage 1988. 1988 is a classic, firm vintage with marked tannins and freshness, the most austere of the 1988-89-90 trio and now rewarding with savoury complexity.

Lafite is about precision rather than power: cedar and pencil shavings, cassis, tobacco leaf and a cool mineral edge. The tannins are fine-grained and the finish long and understated, the kind of wine that rewards patience and attention.

Service & pairing. Serve at 17 °C. Decant young vintages for one to two hours; older bottles gently, just before serving. Classic with roast lamb, entrecôte à la bordelaise, game birds or a mature Saint-Nectaire.