I was really lucky to get into wine when I could afford them. That’s years ago!

This Carruades is the second label of the famous Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, from Pauillac, in the Medoc region of Bordeaux. The 2009 or 2010 vintages of Lafite cost about $800 to $1,000 a bottle; way over my wine budget. Their second labels are also too costly now, but back then, after the great 1961, good 1964 and charming 1969s came out, I could reward myself once in a while with a $20 bottle. However, this one cost me $60 some years later.

At 50 years old, the wine was at peak, but still has life in it. Cellaring in a dark, cool place, at a steady temperature, without any vibration near it, can permit you to keep wines for decades. I scored this beauty an 18 on the 20-point Dionysian Scale where aromas have the most points. This wine was schoolhouse brick in color, with leather, tobacco and spice aromas. It was silky smooth after decanting off the sediment that had bonded together and fallen out of the wine. The cork crumbled apart. The one in the photo is just a stopper.

Lamb chops glazed with drippings from roasted carrots and grapes helped the wine to show its best. A smooth finish with a long aftertaste was rewarding. At 12% alcohol, this wine proved how great moderate alcohol can be in food wines. In vino veritas.