TN: 75 Lafite

Baby Chickpea · Post by **Baby Chickpea** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:35 am

1975 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
Good level into neck and cork still holding together on removal (50% soaked). Red with obvious bricking. Good clarity and appears in good condition. Nose blooms with blackberries, coffee, and some residual oak. Not very developed, almost monolithic. Still youthful. Palate on day one upon opening was terrible - all tannin and oak. Where's the fruit? After 4 hours, a slight improvement but still unbalanced. Almost threw out rest of bottle. On day 2, took out the filled 250ml bottle from the fridge and aired it for another 2 hours. A night in the chiller appears to have worked wonders. Now lovely integration, with rich lashings of fruit and excellent length and concentration. Tannins are still firm. Became quite lovely . Given its chameleon-like qualities, almost impossible to rate. Still, no beauty and remains firm. The elements are there, they are just not in synch. At its best perhaps 90, at its worst 84. Overall then I would rate it:
86 / 100

George Krashos · Post by **George Krashos** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 3:48 pm

Thanks for the review Baby Chickpea. 1975 happens to be my wife's birth year and I've managed to source a bottle and magnum of Ch. Montrose 1975 for her 30th next year. Looks like I'll have to decant the be-jeezus out of them - 1975 is known to be a tannic year in Bordeaux (and strangely enough, for Grange also ..)

-- George Krashos

Baby Chickpea · Post by **Baby Chickpea** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:39 am

Good luck with it George! haven't had the 75 Montrose so let us know waht it's like!

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:49 pm

Hello Danny,

For what it is worth, on my way home from Melbourne (on plane to Sydney) this Wednesday, I sat next to a person who has a 1862 Lafite in their cellar, as well as a 1942 Yalumba Cartd'or Riesling.

Do you know whether 1962 was good vintage in Pauillac?

Seriously, do you know of the Riesling?

Adair

Baby Chickpea · Post by **Baby Chickpea** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 3:09 pm

1862 Lafite - crap year! 1864 was better! Prolly the only ppl who have had the 1862 Lafite in the last 20 years are Broadbent and Parker (and I don't have their books with me at the moemnt to check).

Wasn't the 42 Yalumba recently part of the Yalumba/Samuel Smith tasting that someone on this board and ERP posted notes on? own up ....anyway, only heard of the riesling and reputed to be over-the-hill and more a curio now....

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 3:16 pm

Baby Chickpea wrote:1862 Lafite - crap year! 1864 was better! Prolly the only ppl who have had the 1862 Lafite in the last 20 years are Broadbent and Parker (and I don't have their books with me at the moemnt to check).

Makes me feel better. Thank you.

Baby Chickpea wrote:Wasn't the 42 Yalumba recently part of the Yalumba/Samuel Smith tasting that someone on this board and ERP posted notes on? own up ....anyway, only heard of the riesling and reputed to be over-the-hill and more a curio now....

A 1942 Yalumba Riesling was part of the tasting, but I am not sure if the "Cartd'or" part means this is a different wine.

Adair