The second label of the top Grand Cru Bordeaux is worth its price. With 12% alcohol, the 1964 Carruades de Chateau Lafite-Rothschild scored 15 Dionysian point out of 20 because at 51 years old, and from a weaker vintage, it had lost its prime.They cost nearly $100 a bottle for new vintages, but back then, it was $4.99.
Sharing a wine that’s half a century old is an academic study, leads to great conversation, and forces you to be very honest when evaluating wines. I love the extreme complexity of older wines, but was saddened that this bottle had passed away some years back. It was all tobacco, subtle leather and just a hint of cedar. Without that cedar, its score would have been much lower. In vino veritas.
Ideal with rack of lamb, the wine was to old this time and over-peak which would have been 10 to 15 years ago.
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