1978 Lafite Rothschild

[jeffperez62]

Having one tomorrow with dinner and I'm wondering what to expect. Anyone out there drink anything similar lately?? I know we are having rack of lamb and some capon. What food would go best with a wine like this??

[raxelita]

Had a 78 Lafite last year and it was incredible. I drank it with an herb-marinated hangar steak. Honestly though, on it's own it was a transporting experience. Layered, rich-- it stopped me in my tracks.

I know this has not been a celebrated vintage, but my experience with it was profound.

Enjoy,

R

[Carolyn Tillie]

Jeff, aren't you going to report back how it was????

[jeffperez62]

Unfortunately, my friend (soon to be ex-friend) decided not to bring the Lafite. We were on a "bachelors" ski getaway in New Hampshire and he thought that with all of the othe adult beverages we were enjoying, it would be better to save it for another day.

[MaxH]

Had a 78 Lafite last year and it was incredible. ...  on it's own it was a transporting experience.  Layered, rich-- it stopped me in my tracks. 

I know this has not been a celebrated vintage ...

Good report, thanks.

By the way as a historical note, if 78 truly is not a celebrated vintage today, then that is at least relatively recent. It was loudly celebrated in the US, at least, when classified 78 Bordeaux came to market in 1981 -- for some years it was routinely touted as the leading Bordeaux vintage of its time, between 75 and the early-hyped 1982. The hype for 78 resembled that of a couple of recent Bordeaux vintages, such as 2000, minus the extent of futures frenzy that's come to that market lately.

The 78 Lafite tasted very promising to me in 1981 -- concentrated and well structured. That and Margaux were about the most impressive Bordeaux of that year that I tasted young. (Both retailed for about $50 in the US then, which was not cheap.)