Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

'The 1970 Lafite-Rothschild is a vintage I have not encountered for many years, and frankly, I never expected it to perform so well. There's lovely delineation and vitality on the nose with candied orange peel infusing the pretty and pure red fruit, scents of graphite surfacing with time. There is a wonderful sweet core of red fruit on the palate. This is a fine-boned First Growth with panache and verve. More tender than Latour, more complex than Mouton, this might be my First Growth de choix in 1970.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 94/100 (Sep 2023)

'This was a strange wine as at the beginning it was rather tart and disappointing. And after 45 minutes or so it was starting to return to that state, but about 20-30 minutes after pouring it was absolutely glorious in typically Lafite lighter, but soaring, register. Mid ruby. A bit rusty. Light and a bit raw. Very light in fact. Lots of acidity. But then it came out and, I suspect, would have been even more impressive had it not been served alongside the powerhouse of Latour 1970' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Jun 2010)

'Nice clear colour. The bouquet definitely has more vigour then previous bottles encountered, with sandalwood, cigar box and cedar to the fore. Not a complex nose, but nicely defined and unashamedly "classic" in style. The palate is medium-bodied and well-balanced, good level of ripeness, elegant; harmonious but aloof. The second half is conservative but still fresh with just a touch of piquancy right on the finish. This Lafite is not going to go anywhere, but this shows that good bottles can still be pleasurable. Drink now-2015.' - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 90/100 (May 2009)