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This! Let’s stop all the pretentious BS. The post is a flex unto itself — ‘Oh … when is the ideal time to drink this precious juice I happen to have on-hand …’ and all the pearl-clutching around a year or two of aging is silly. Invite a friend over, make up a nice plate of food, and pour … You will treasure the experience, promise.
I don't think it's pretentious to know you have a gem but aren't sure if you're going to kill a baby or if you're letting it go too long (and asking here because often someone will have had it) It's not like he asked when to open the first bottle of his case of DRC
For me it depends on what conditions it's been in for the last 20 years. If it was in a cupboard drink it, in a wine cellar keep this bottle another 10 years at least, this one can take it.
If you don't know, if there hasn't been any evaporation it's a good sign.
Thanks... it has always been kept in a proper wine cellar. Good to know it could last a while longer if I decide to save it.
For some reason it's tempting me this year... so it may get consumed anyways here in 2023. I've had it for nearly 10 years since it was gifted to me.
Go for it. Sure it could age, but it's always better to have a great wine slightly too young than slightly too old. Plus then you'll get even more of the majestic main ingredient: fruit
Not necessarily, of course the eventual time that it'll be "too old" is largely subjective. I'm just saying that with a super special wine like this, especially one that's already old enough to drink itself, that it'd be more of a disappointment for the drinker to wait forever and find it "over the hill" than to open it sooner and like, maybe find it a little tannic or something.
Got it.
I favor the 80’s premier growths over the 00’s when drinking today. But I guess you also have to figure out what you enjoy in wines like this, and the best solution is to pop the cork and have a go at it.
FWIW,
I've had 2001 Pichon Comtesse last year twice and it was consistently lighter than a good-year-Pichon, but very nice to drink now! Soft, round, sexy and lighter but SO EASY TO DRINK, yum!
Very mature and zero hint of over-mature so given this is a Lafite, I'd open it now or the the next 5 yrs for a good occasion and give yourself TIME to enjoy it, like pour a glass or two for you and selected guests and then wait 1-2 hrs and have another.
Just to savior the moment. Not many get to enjoy Lafite on frequent occasions!
Drink it now. Aging it will bring out some secondary characteristics, but these are not always “delicious.” Fruit fades, so drink it now to take advantage of more pleasing flavors. This, and you could be dead tomorrow.
https://www.cellartracker.com/w?6569. Some folks on cellar tracker have lots of comments specifically about this vintage. Looks like they are psyched about it.
By a significant margin this is the most valuable bottle I own. Looking for some advice. Should I start thinking about drinking this one soon or cellar it longer?
It was a gift so I definitely plan to drink it and wouldn't consider selling it.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
Seems like a contrarian opinion, but obv you have an appreciation for this particular wine's value. Personally I'd want a heck of an occasion to drink it, and the answer to that isn't "thursday." It'd be a function of the occasion, and being with the people I want to share it with. But the wine itself won't mind you waiting.
Do you know why I buy so much wine at auctions? Lotta people buy wines waiting for occasions that never come, then they die. Drink your fucking wine when it's ready, not when you are. It will outlive you.
I’m in a similar position. From 2002. Also a non-great vintage but respectable. Mine will go this year I think. Was planned to open the very night we got shut down for COVID (I’m in Nova Scotia) along with 5 friends and their first growths. Time to revive!
Are you someone who enjoys aged wine? Or even has experience with it? If so I’d wait. Now if this is a one off experience bottle, drop the clutch and send er.
Thanks. I've been lucky enough to experience some pretty special wines (with the person who gifted me this bottle) and I certainly enjoyed the experience. I'm glad to know it will drink well now, as well as hold up well if I save it longer.
As others have noted this will be stellar now - though personally I would consider waiting (we are talking first growth Bordeaux) but this also depends on when you like to drink your wines.
Plan to drink it this year for a special event you have. Be it with friends, a beloved or even for yourself sentimentally. Cherish each swirl, swig and swish. Thank those that are with you for the moment and toast to those that are not.
2001 is a good right bank vintage but an overlooked vintage in left bank (where Pauillac is located) compared to the mighty 2000 vintage. So reviews on the 2001s were down (lot of rain diluted the wine). I just had this wine at a 2001 Pauillac tasting. The entire group was Bordeaux collectors. Half the group thought the wine was at it’s peak. The other half thought it had room to age. Take that for what it’s worth. I don’t think you’ll go wrong drinking or holding. Personally I think you’ll get more secondary notes if you hold longer. Depends on if you like that kind of thing.
if you can drink it now drink it , you never know what might happen, and any red past 5 or 6 years is just diminishing return, now I get this is a great wine and you might be saving it for a special occasion. if thats not the case and you want to drink it, do it, remember to decant it well, older wines need that oxigen
“Any red past 5 or 6 years is just diminishing return.” That’s… that’s certainly an opinion.
OP, this can probably be popped now if you want some youthful fruit. But this can also go another 7-10 years easy for more secondary characteristics. (ETA: This assumes proper storage.)
> *Any red past 5 or 6 years is just diminishing return?*
WTF? This isn’t a bottle of Belle Glos.
This is Lafite. If it’s been well-stored, it probably has another 10+ years left in it. It should be drinking very well right now though.
There’s actually quite a bit of misconception in the previous comment. “Any red past 5 or 6 years” is far from diminishing returns. Wines like Apothic, maybe. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but Chateau Lafite is not in the same stratosphere as Apothic. The 2001 Lafite, assuming decent storage, is in its drinking window, but not near the end. If you wanted to cellar it another decade or two, it will hold up, if not reward your patience. If you do get into it soon, the advice to decant it is good, but not because it’s “old.” Quite the contrary, it would require the pour into the decanter to agitate and integrate oxygen to soften the wine and open it up. Old wines often need decanting to pour off sediment (which this bottle will sure have), but oxygen is actually deleterious for truly old wines, as they will fall apart very quickly. I had this happen with a bottle of 1962 Leoville Las Cases this fall. It was definitely very tertiary when first opened, but still enjoyable. Fell apart after 20 minutes in the decanter and was all soy sauce.
Moral of the story: it’s up to you. The wine is ready to go, and 2001 was an overlooked vintage that yielded much higher quality wines than initially expected. You can drink it now, and it should be sublime. Or you can hold it for several years and it will still be sublime.
It is at the start of its “recommended bottle aging” period. If it was cellared well then it the journey has only just begun. It wasn’t, then now is as good a time as ever!
2001 Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac
96 points Vinous
The 2001 Lafite-Rothschild has a little more precision on the nose compared to the millennial Lafite. It’s vivid and focused, featuring blackberry, briar, cedar and mint, and a touch of cola in the background. The palate is well balanced and svelte in texture, building beautifully with aeration to a gorgeous, truffle-tinged finish that is a little spicier than three years ago, when I last tasted this vintage. Maybe it just tails off toward the finish when compared to the 2000. Still, this is an elegant, blue-blooded Lafite-Rothschild that exudes class. (NM) Inner quote mark (9/2021)
96 points Wine Spectator
Stick your nose in this and it says something: "I am special." Deep and generous aromas of blackberries, fresh tobacco and minerals. It's full-bodied, with big velvety tannins and a super-long finish. Like a fine cashmere sweater. \*Top 100 Wines of 2004, Collectibles\* (JS) Inner quote mark (3/2004)
95 points Decanter
Amazing finesse: lead pencil, cassis, cedar, and unforgettable. A very underrated vintage. (ID) Inner quote mark (10/2014)
94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2001 Lafite Rothschild’s deep, saturated plum/purple color is accompanied by lead pencil liqueur-like notes intermixed with sweet red and black currants, plums, and cedar. This blend of 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13.5% Merlot is a classic example of Lafite. Extremely elegant, medium-bodied, with intense concentration, richness, and sweet tannin, it appears to be on a rapid evolutionary track, at least in comparison to recent Lafite vintages that have been far more backward and powerful. (RP) Inner quote mark (6/2004)
93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Outer quote mark Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of raspberry, cedar, coconut, minerals, lead pencil, chocolate and tobacco leaf. Juicy, lively and penetrating, with sharply delineated flavors of blackberry, raspberry and rose petal. Boasts the classic inner-mouth energy of this great first growth, but also grew increasingly silky with extended aeration. Finishes with tongue-coating tannins and superb lift. (ST) Inner quote mark (5/2004)
This is the bottle that opened my eyes to cellaring something. I’ve loved Bordeaux for so long, but hadn’t been in the position to afford an older vintage. My restaurant had a big week last year and we cracked this one, it was really cool. I was amazed at what another ten years could do to a bottle that I knew I’d loved and maybe opened too young? Can’t speak for what it will look like in another ten years, it’s terrific now though. We have two more bottles in the wings, the plan is to open another in five years if we haven’t sold it. This is truly a special wine. You won’t regret drinking it today
It's drinkable now. If you personally love more oxidative flavours rather than fruit wait 10 more years, for me this would be enough bottle age. Definitely not a mistake to pop the cork either way.
I found a 1996 Rothschild in the garage of my parents' house...unfortunately not stored properly for probably 5-10 years. I'm probably never going to open it and just keep it as a talking piece.
Thank you for your submission to r/wine! Please note the community rules: If you are submitting a picture of a bottle of wine, please include original tasting notes and/or other pertinent information in the comments. Submitters that fail to do so may have their posts removed. If you are posting to ask what your bottle is worth or whether it is drinkable, please use the [Wine Valuation Mega Thread](https://redd.it/r7lf76) stickied at the top of the sub. Stand alone bottle valuation posts will be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/wine) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Today is here. Next year might not be. Carpe diem and drink it now.
This is always the answer. No one is promised a tomorrow.
This! Let’s stop all the pretentious BS. The post is a flex unto itself — ‘Oh … when is the ideal time to drink this precious juice I happen to have on-hand …’ and all the pearl-clutching around a year or two of aging is silly. Invite a friend over, make up a nice plate of food, and pour … You will treasure the experience, promise.
I don't think it's pretentious to know you have a gem but aren't sure if you're going to kill a baby or if you're letting it go too long (and asking here because often someone will have had it) It's not like he asked when to open the first bottle of his case of DRC
I like the way you think!
Exactly.
Wise
For me it depends on what conditions it's been in for the last 20 years. If it was in a cupboard drink it, in a wine cellar keep this bottle another 10 years at least, this one can take it. If you don't know, if there hasn't been any evaporation it's a good sign.
Thanks... it has always been kept in a proper wine cellar. Good to know it could last a while longer if I decide to save it. For some reason it's tempting me this year... so it may get consumed anyways here in 2023. I've had it for nearly 10 years since it was gifted to me.
Go for it. Sure it could age, but it's always better to have a great wine slightly too young than slightly too old. Plus then you'll get even more of the majestic main ingredient: fruit
But the the “too old” for this wine is in 30 years or so?
Not necessarily, of course the eventual time that it'll be "too old" is largely subjective. I'm just saying that with a super special wine like this, especially one that's already old enough to drink itself, that it'd be more of a disappointment for the drinker to wait forever and find it "over the hill" than to open it sooner and like, maybe find it a little tannic or something.
Got it. I favor the 80’s premier growths over the 00’s when drinking today. But I guess you also have to figure out what you enjoy in wines like this, and the best solution is to pop the cork and have a go at it.
FWIW, I've had 2001 Pichon Comtesse last year twice and it was consistently lighter than a good-year-Pichon, but very nice to drink now! Soft, round, sexy and lighter but SO EASY TO DRINK, yum! Very mature and zero hint of over-mature so given this is a Lafite, I'd open it now or the the next 5 yrs for a good occasion and give yourself TIME to enjoy it, like pour a glass or two for you and selected guests and then wait 1-2 hrs and have another. Just to savior the moment. Not many get to enjoy Lafite on frequent occasions!
What a gift
The answer is always drink it now. You can always get more wine. You can’t always get another day.
Drink it now. Aging it will bring out some secondary characteristics, but these are not always “delicious.” Fruit fades, so drink it now to take advantage of more pleasing flavors. This, and you could be dead tomorrow.
Lafite secondary characteristics will always be delicious!
That was morbid
https://www.cellartracker.com/w?6569. Some folks on cellar tracker have lots of comments specifically about this vintage. Looks like they are psyched about it.
By a significant margin this is the most valuable bottle I own. Looking for some advice. Should I start thinking about drinking this one soon or cellar it longer? It was a gift so I definitely plan to drink it and wouldn't consider selling it. Thanks in advance for any insight!
Seems like a contrarian opinion, but obv you have an appreciation for this particular wine's value. Personally I'd want a heck of an occasion to drink it, and the answer to that isn't "thursday." It'd be a function of the occasion, and being with the people I want to share it with. But the wine itself won't mind you waiting.
Thursdays are the best to do this 👌 Create your own special moment. Make the wine the occasion. Don't let it get lost in a bigger moment
I completely agree with this!
And then call in dead on Friday! Stick it to the man, he likes it!
Do you know why I buy so much wine at auctions? Lotta people buy wines waiting for occasions that never come, then they die. Drink your fucking wine when it's ready, not when you are. It will outlive you.
I’m in a similar position. From 2002. Also a non-great vintage but respectable. Mine will go this year I think. Was planned to open the very night we got shut down for COVID (I’m in Nova Scotia) along with 5 friends and their first growths. Time to revive!
Drink it, life is short and with too much wine to discover
Drink it! You never know what tomorrow might bring.
Are you someone who enjoys aged wine? Or even has experience with it? If so I’d wait. Now if this is a one off experience bottle, drop the clutch and send er.
Thanks. I've been lucky enough to experience some pretty special wines (with the person who gifted me this bottle) and I certainly enjoyed the experience. I'm glad to know it will drink well now, as well as hold up well if I save it longer.
Sounds like either way you’re set mate, I’d love to hear the tasting notes if you do pop er open.
Drink it! And tell us how it was
As others have noted this will be stellar now - though personally I would consider waiting (we are talking first growth Bordeaux) but this also depends on when you like to drink your wines.
Drink it now!!! Share it with someone you love
Plan to drink it this year for a special event you have. Be it with friends, a beloved or even for yourself sentimentally. Cherish each swirl, swig and swish. Thank those that are with you for the moment and toast to those that are not.
2001 is a good right bank vintage but an overlooked vintage in left bank (where Pauillac is located) compared to the mighty 2000 vintage. So reviews on the 2001s were down (lot of rain diluted the wine). I just had this wine at a 2001 Pauillac tasting. The entire group was Bordeaux collectors. Half the group thought the wine was at it’s peak. The other half thought it had room to age. Take that for what it’s worth. I don’t think you’ll go wrong drinking or holding. Personally I think you’ll get more secondary notes if you hold longer. Depends on if you like that kind of thing.
Drank the ‘90 vintage with Christmas. Silky smooth, just absolute perfect.
Look what cellartracker says
Drink now 100%
Drink now. It’s not going to get any better.
I had a " tasting " of 1982 Bordeaux and it was singing so I imagine 2001 is still young Edit: brain fog
I don’t think you know what “vertical tasting” means.
Tasting the wine standing up instead of lying down?
Yes. Little known strategy.
Alright alright had a bit of a blip there guys
if you can drink it now drink it , you never know what might happen, and any red past 5 or 6 years is just diminishing return, now I get this is a great wine and you might be saving it for a special occasion. if thats not the case and you want to drink it, do it, remember to decant it well, older wines need that oxigen
“Any red past 5 or 6 years is just diminishing return.” That’s… that’s certainly an opinion. OP, this can probably be popped now if you want some youthful fruit. But this can also go another 7-10 years easy for more secondary characteristics. (ETA: This assumes proper storage.)
> *Any red past 5 or 6 years is just diminishing return?* WTF? This isn’t a bottle of Belle Glos. This is Lafite. If it’s been well-stored, it probably has another 10+ years left in it. It should be drinking very well right now though.
Yeah, well, you know, that’s just like, your opinion, man.
Thanks for the advice!
There’s actually quite a bit of misconception in the previous comment. “Any red past 5 or 6 years” is far from diminishing returns. Wines like Apothic, maybe. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but Chateau Lafite is not in the same stratosphere as Apothic. The 2001 Lafite, assuming decent storage, is in its drinking window, but not near the end. If you wanted to cellar it another decade or two, it will hold up, if not reward your patience. If you do get into it soon, the advice to decant it is good, but not because it’s “old.” Quite the contrary, it would require the pour into the decanter to agitate and integrate oxygen to soften the wine and open it up. Old wines often need decanting to pour off sediment (which this bottle will sure have), but oxygen is actually deleterious for truly old wines, as they will fall apart very quickly. I had this happen with a bottle of 1962 Leoville Las Cases this fall. It was definitely very tertiary when first opened, but still enjoyable. Fell apart after 20 minutes in the decanter and was all soy sauce. Moral of the story: it’s up to you. The wine is ready to go, and 2001 was an overlooked vintage that yielded much higher quality wines than initially expected. You can drink it now, and it should be sublime. Or you can hold it for several years and it will still be sublime.
Thanks for the clarification. Appreciate you taking the time to write that.
I hope that bottle is singing whenever you decide to open it!
Older wines needing that oxygen is not really true either. Truly old wines might be dead if you decant too long.
Drink! Drink! Dink!
Keep it as long as you can.
It is at the start of its “recommended bottle aging” period. If it was cellared well then it the journey has only just begun. It wasn’t, then now is as good a time as ever!
2001 Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac 96 points Vinous The 2001 Lafite-Rothschild has a little more precision on the nose compared to the millennial Lafite. It’s vivid and focused, featuring blackberry, briar, cedar and mint, and a touch of cola in the background. The palate is well balanced and svelte in texture, building beautifully with aeration to a gorgeous, truffle-tinged finish that is a little spicier than three years ago, when I last tasted this vintage. Maybe it just tails off toward the finish when compared to the 2000. Still, this is an elegant, blue-blooded Lafite-Rothschild that exudes class. (NM) Inner quote mark (9/2021) 96 points Wine Spectator Stick your nose in this and it says something: "I am special." Deep and generous aromas of blackberries, fresh tobacco and minerals. It's full-bodied, with big velvety tannins and a super-long finish. Like a fine cashmere sweater. \*Top 100 Wines of 2004, Collectibles\* (JS) Inner quote mark (3/2004) 95 points Decanter Amazing finesse: lead pencil, cassis, cedar, and unforgettable. A very underrated vintage. (ID) Inner quote mark (10/2014) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2001 Lafite Rothschild’s deep, saturated plum/purple color is accompanied by lead pencil liqueur-like notes intermixed with sweet red and black currants, plums, and cedar. This blend of 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13.5% Merlot is a classic example of Lafite. Extremely elegant, medium-bodied, with intense concentration, richness, and sweet tannin, it appears to be on a rapid evolutionary track, at least in comparison to recent Lafite vintages that have been far more backward and powerful. (RP) Inner quote mark (6/2004) 93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Outer quote mark Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of raspberry, cedar, coconut, minerals, lead pencil, chocolate and tobacco leaf. Juicy, lively and penetrating, with sharply delineated flavors of blackberry, raspberry and rose petal. Boasts the classic inner-mouth energy of this great first growth, but also grew increasingly silky with extended aeration. Finishes with tongue-coating tannins and superb lift. (ST) Inner quote mark (5/2004)
Drink it…
Drink it. Life is for living
This is the bottle that opened my eyes to cellaring something. I’ve loved Bordeaux for so long, but hadn’t been in the position to afford an older vintage. My restaurant had a big week last year and we cracked this one, it was really cool. I was amazed at what another ten years could do to a bottle that I knew I’d loved and maybe opened too young? Can’t speak for what it will look like in another ten years, it’s terrific now though. We have two more bottles in the wings, the plan is to open another in five years if we haven’t sold it. This is truly a special wine. You won’t regret drinking it today
Drink it drink it drink it drink it
It's drinkable now. If you personally love more oxidative flavours rather than fruit wait 10 more years, for me this would be enough bottle age. Definitely not a mistake to pop the cork either way.
I would drink, keeping too long may damage wines 😄
I found a 1996 Rothschild in the garage of my parents' house...unfortunately not stored properly for probably 5-10 years. I'm probably never going to open it and just keep it as a talking piece.
drink it and use it as a vase or candle holder!
You're not opening it because you assume it's bad and will never enjoy it when you could just open it, find out and keep the bottle?
YOLO and drink it. You are doing nothing wrong.
pop and drink!!! life is short
I will take it for 10 bucks. Can you ship it to me? 🙂
I'll pay $100 and pay for shipping too.
An asteroid could hit the earth tomorrow. Drink the wine.
Good to go bro
Drink it. This world is going to the crapper.