Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 1998-2050
A wine of legend from a vintage of dreams.
The 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild is not merely a First Growth; it’s a benchmark in Bordeaux history. From an exceptional vintage that redefined the modern era of fine wine, this Lafite stands as one of the most sought-after and celebrated releases ever made by the estate.
In the glass, it radiates with maturity and depth, cedar, graphite, blackcurrant, and dried violets unfolding in complex, layered harmony.
The palate is silky and refined, with astonishing persistence and balance that only decades in bottle can bestow. It's graceful yet commanding, like a symphony conducted by a master.
Critics and collectors alike hail this vintage as one of the greatest Lafites of all time.
Critic Notes:
98 Points | Neal Martin (Vinous) - Wine Journal Jan 2013
“Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. This is the second time I have tasted the Lafite ’82 this year and both bottles have been exemplary. Here it has a brilliantly defined nose of black fruit, graphite and limestone that has an electrifying intensity – a brightness undimmed over three decades. The palate displays outstanding balance, a little more feminine than Latour and quintessentially “Lafite” rather than “1982”. Fleshy and opulent towards the finish, yet not flamboyant or as extrovert as Mouton, this is just a fabulous Lafite that should plateau for many years. Tasted November 2012.”
97 Points | Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 June 2009
“This is a denser version of the 1990 that stylistically reminds me of what the young 1959 probably tasted like. Still backward with a deep ruby/plum color revealing only a touch of lightening at the edge, the wine offers up an extraordinary nose of caramelized herbs, smoke, cedar, pen ink, black currants, and earth. The gorgeous aromatics are followed by a full-bodied, plump, rich, fleshy wine with low acidity. With 6-8 hours decanting in a closed decanter, it will offer beautiful drinking, but it needs another 5-8 years to reach full maturity. It is capable of lasting 50-60 years. This classic Lafite is not as fat and concentrated as the 1982 Latour, nor as complex or concentrated as the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but it is a winner all the same. Release price: ($350.00/case)”