Michael Broadbent has long claimed that the 1848 Lafite-Rothschild was one of the great wines of the last century. In his last tasting in 1988, he awarded it five stars. Seven years later it was again extraordinary! The color was light ruby/garnet, but the exceptionally penetrating bouquet of sweet cedar, ripe, jammy fruit, earth, fruitcake, and lead pencil was followed by a remarkably dense yet elegant wine with exceptional expansion and a velvety texture. It was wonderfully concentrated, sweet, and ripe, with neither the wine's acidity nor tannin showing through its quantity of fruit. It could easily pass for a 45-50 year old wine. Quite stunning, this is truly a legendary wine with an unmistakable Lafite character! The notes for this wine are taken from the description of Series III - Flight C of the 1995 tasting conducted in Munich by Helga and Hardy Rodenstock. Many years after the tasting from which this note derives allegations were made concerning the authenticity of old and rare bottles of wine sold by Hardy Rodenstock to collectors around the world. The matter has been the subject of numerous articles, litigation and at least one book. Mr. Parker believes that the wines served to him at this tasting were authentic so this note and the others from that specific tasting continue to be posted on eRobertParker.com.