1985 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac [JS-96pts]

Ratings & Tasting Notes: 96 points James Suckling Tasting one of his last bottles from a three-bottle case purchased on release, Suckling called 1985 a utterly brilliant year for Lafite and one of his favorite wines of the vintage, with a deep, complex nose of cassis, sweet dark berries, fresh coconut, gravelly soil tones, cigar smoke, fresh herbs, and cedar. He found the palate deep, full-bodied, and refined, with a rock-solid core of sappy fruit, stunning complexity, impeccable focus and balance, moderate tannins, and a fairly powerful finish. 94 points Decanter Tasted at the château and reviewed as the best example of this wine sampled across a dozen tastings, Decanter found this bottle delivering effortless elegance, subtlety, and layered complexity, now fully in its tertiary period with fine, fully integrated tannins still offering support to notes of brambled fruit, cured leather, black spice, sage, mint, and salted truffle. 93 points Robert Parker / Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate Parker and Neal Martin were more measured, calling the 1985 only a modest success in the context of its vintage, noting it was totally outclassed by the 1985 Léoville Las Cases. They found light, slightly loose-knit red berry fruit on the nose complemented by warm gravel and smoky aromas, though the wine lacked a bit of energy overall. Cult Wines International Notes: Château Lafite Rothschild is Bordeaux’s largest First Growth by vineyard area, its viticultural history stretching back to the 13th century and its status cemented when it was named one of only four estates awarded Premier Cru honors in the 1855 Classification. The modern era of the estate began in August 1868, when Baron James de Rothschild purchased the property at a Paris auction for 4.4 million francs, only to pass away three months later; the estate then descended through six generations of Rothschild family stewardship, from his three sons through to Baron Elie’s postwar restoration, Baron Eric de Rothschild’s decades of modernization beginning in 1974, and current chairwoman Saskia de Rothschild. By 1985, the estate was firmly under Baron Eric’s direction, continuing the meticulous plot-by-plot vinification and rigorous selection for which Lafite remains known. The 1985 growing season in the Médoc and Graves began with a changeable July, where hot spells alternated with rain, followed by a somewhat cooler and drier August. The real turning point came in September, one of the hottest and driest on record, which drove excellent ripening, and the good conditions held through the harvest into October. The result across the Left Bank was a vintage generally praised for its charm and approachability rather than raw power — wines with real finesse, if less structural weight than the very greatest years. At Lafite, this produced a classically restrained, aromatic wine that has since settled into a long, graceful plateau: not the most concentrated vintage in the estate’s history, but one that showcases the elegant, understated character for which Lafite is prized, now fully mature and drinking at its peak. Bottle Size: 750 mL Storage History: Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar. Condition: Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold. Label is marked as shown. Discounted due to this. https://cultwinesintl.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/03/CWI-LISTING-VID.mp4