Costing under $20 on release with 12.5% alcohol, the 1964 First Growth Chateau Lafite-Rothschild of the Pauillac region of Bordeaux scored 18+ (gold) points on the Dionysian scale.

Leather, cigar box, spices and stone-fruit pits, filled the nose for over 45 minutes after decanting. It had less sediment than expected. I don’t buy older wines at auction because of unknown storage conditions no matter what they say. This one would be over $2,000. Beside I cellar wines to drink with family and friends.

Another wine for lamb chops, but we added some beef tenderloins and a single chop. The wine introduced autumn.

Its color help up well with an amber edge, but the base was deep and garnet.

I can no longer afford wines like these, but there are wines just as good, yes, just as good without the famous labels for far, far less money. Sample wines form everywhere with a group of tasting wine friends and you’ll be expert enough. Get my book, Wine for Intellectuals, from Amazon. It’s all a beginner needs. In Vino Veritas.