1934 Lafite Rothschild

Many consider this the vintage of the decade. Two months of drought in the summer and saving rains in September. The harvest was early and surprisingly abundant. This was served blind and we were all flummoxed – I think none of us wanted to assume that we would be treated to something as old as this. The accompanying notes assured us that 'many consider this the vintage of the decade' and, looking at the vintages listed at the beginning of our tasting booklet, it was the decade of the 1960s that was missing... Yet this clearly didn't have the concentration of a 1961. We were to be treated to a 1959 and 1955 so what could this be? The most amazing thing about this wine was how clean, fresh and lively it still was. It managed to have sweetness of fruit yet to be, like virtually all these wines, bone dry on the finish. It was a transparent shaded ruby and, as I wrote in my tasting notes, 'obviously quite mature'! Mild, subtle and layered, it had the ethereal, energetic quality of a good Lafite. The balance was beautiful and it was gloriously persistent and complete. Probably a little past its peak but still going strong and a real triumph. (Should you have any in your cellar...) A great finale to that part of the tasting that took place in the chai. (JR)