Lafite Pauillac 1er Cru (ex Château 2022) 1990

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Lafite
Label Name:
 
Pauillac 1er Cru (ex Château 2022)
Vintage:
 
1990
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Pauillac, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
12.5%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
5
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Noted by Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #109) as riper and textured but very tannic; Decanter review and multiple Christie's auction notes describe cedar, lead-pencil, black fruits and long ageing potential. Jeff Leve/Neal Martin tasting notes cited; generally regarded as a classic but backward 1990 requiring cellaring

Tasting Note
Closed but concentrated: cedar, lead-pencil, blackcurrant, tobacco, leather and mineral notes. Ripe core with firm, mouthsearing tannins and dusty oak; medium–full body and a long, austere finish—benefits from extended cellaring.

Food Pairing
Western: entrecôte, roasted lamb, venison, game, mushroom risotto. Asian: Peking/Cantonese roast duck, Korean BBQ (bulgogi), braised short ribs, soy-mushroom stir-fries.

Production Method
Traditional Bordeaux vinification: hand-harvest, destemming, fermentation in temperature-controlled vats, malolactic conversion and 18–20 months ageing in oak barrels (significant new oak).

Vineyard Info
Château Lafite-Rothschild, a First Growth (1855) in Pauillac, long-owned by the Rothschild family; renowned for gravel soils and Cabernet-led, long-lived wines.