1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

"The 1986 Lafite Rothschild was tasted twice, once from bottle at the château and then from imperial at the Académie du Vin dinner. It is an awesome Pauillac that has finally reached its drinking plateau. The nose is so vibrant yet beautifully controlled, black fruit commingling with graphite, cedar and just a touch of juniper. Wonderful delineation, though it needs 15 to 20 minutes to really cohere. The palate is taut and fresh with a keen thread of acidity. It is not a powerful First Growth (Lafite rarely is), but there is astonishing balance to its layers of cedar-infused black fruit. Touches of allspice and pencil shavings emerge towards the sustained finish. Magnificent." 97/100 - Vinous