1983 CHÂTEAU LAFITE ROTHSCHILD 1983

(01-1998) Finally, the 1983 Lafite is beginning to shed its tannin. The wine exhibits a deep rubygarnet color with only a slight lightening at the edge. The intoxicatingly perfumed nose of lead pencil, pain grille, red and black fruits, minerals, and roasted herbs is provocative. In the mouth, this wine displays considerable body for a Lafite, plenty of power, and a fleshy, rich, sweet mid-palate. Long, elegant, plump, and surprisingly fleshy, this outstanding example of Lafite seems largely forgotten given the number of high quality vintages during the golden decade of the eighties.

(05-2018) The first of a trio of wines – 1983, 1985 and 1986 – served blind. Struck by a leafiness on the nose that I associate with some of the less successful 1985s at this stage in their lives I foolishly plumped for 1985 when it was clearly the least impressive of the trio and I had no memory of Lafite 1983. The wine was certainly polished, light sweet and open – and now a bit skinny. There are probably enough pointers there too have steered me to 1983 but the most recent 1983 I tasted was Ch Margaux which was of course famously successful in this vintage. This Lafite 1983 was pretty but was losing fruit.

(01-2010) Strong ruby garnet, delicately ochered, wider water edge. On the nose, dark berry fruit, delicate mint, ripe plum fruit, fine hints of chocolate, eucalyptus, some honey caramel, some velor and exotic spices. Fresh on the palate, red berry nuances, delicate, of heart cherries, cassis, has race, pleasant citrus notes, shines with freshness and salty minerality, a seductive, delicate wine, stays well, slightly rough tannins, great aging potential, reserved overall.

(01-2000) The colour is a very dark, solid ruby with a warm amber rim. The nose on this wine is just sensational. Big, sweet, vegetal fruit with deeply scented blackcurrant aromas emerging as well as baked plums and a background of cedar wood. The palate is just a little lean. The tannins are very, very grippy with quite high acidity too and the whole effect is very drying with fruit not showing through to give real integration and balance. Many tasters thought this too young from the grip of the tannins and the quite youthful colour. That may well be right, but I have tasted all the other 1st growth '83s and the super-seconds and since these are without exception already mature, I just have a niggling doubt whether this will come good in the many years it still needs to shed those ferociously grippy tannins. Wonderful nose, but just a little worrying on the palate - though I could well be proved wrong.