LeDomduVin: Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1978

Someone said Lafite Rothschild 1978?

The other day, I served wine in one of @thelegacyhousehk's luxury private dining rooms.

The pantry had two doors: one leading to the room where I was serving wine and a second to another private room.

The second door opened while I was in the pantry, and I could see people arriving for dinner in the other room.

The host put a bag on the dining room island and took out these six bottles.

Even if I had nothing to do with this party and was not even going to serve the wine for them (I mean, I do not work there; I just came to serve wine for a private dinner), I was intrigued when I saw the labels and could not help myself uttering in an admirative voice, "You've brought some great wines!"

As he looked at me and glanced at the golden grape pin on my jacket, I asked the host if I could enter his room to examine the bottles more closely and even take a picture of them.

He agreed and even told me that I could taste the wine. I said I would love to and thanked him profusely.

I thought from afar that they were different. Yet, they were all 1978 vintage.

The house Sommelier opened the bottles and later brought me a glass, telling me he found some bottle variations.

Although the 1978 vintage was good overall, especially compared to the rest of the 1970s, bottle variations are unsurprising, in my opinion, as these bottles seem to have different provenance, and most 1978 Bordeaux (in general) started to fade and slowly lose their fruit two decades ago already.

Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 1978

The wine displayed a dull, cloudy, light brownish color. On the nose, it boasted autumnal tertiary aromas of leather, tobacco, coffee, underbrush, and pencil shavings, mingling with earthy and light oaky nuances. The palate was still alive and kicking, relatively consistent, with good fruit and acidity and a reasonably long finish. Surprisingly, it was still pretty good. Old but not finished.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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