This bottle was in very good condition and has been properly stored by
me since shortly after release. The color still is rather deep scarlet
with just a trace of age showing at the rim. The main attribute of this
wine is great complexity and fine balance. It is a perfect food wine,
although not an in-your-face near fruit bomb such as the 59 Lafite,
which likely will please the Parker crowd more than the 61. This wine
does not shout caernet sauvignon. Rather it is very complex with cedar,
cassis, spice, enough acidity, and mineral character including the
Lafite "touch of iron" character. The wine shows a wide range of tastes
and smells as you take a sip, and then as you finally swallow. The
tannins are slightly dry, but rather smooth.

There have been more than the usual reports of bottle variation for the
61 Lafite. One can always blame poor storage, but it is possible the 61
Lafite was bottled in different batches, perhaps at different times,
that are a bit different. I am in no rush to open the 9 remaining
bottles of the case, since the wine appears capable of lasting many
more years. A very good US$11 wine, but that was expensive for a wine
when I bought it shortly after release.Of course the 61 Latour is now
the darling of the auction houses, and likely is the top wine of the
vintage. But the auction price of the 61 Latour is about 5 times that
of the 61 Lafite or Margaux.Mouton-Rothschild and Haut-Brion are about
1 1/2 more expensive at auction for the 61s than Lafite or Margaux.Of
course, if money is no consideration, there is the 61 Petrus that is
about twice as expensive as the 61 Latour. You may have a case for
about 32000 Pounds UK at auction. Or you might pay twice as much at
carrage-trade wine shops, although even they are not likely to have a
full case for sale.

Of the Lafites since 1950, some have now passed the peak, and many more
recent ones are not likely to peak for many more years. The best to
drink now are likely the 1959, 1961, and 1955 in that order. Then there
is a big gap until 1982. The 1982 is now drinking very well, but likely
has not peaked and it might be best to keep it a while longer. Most of
the other top Lafites since 1982 can use a few to many more years
before they peak - all with proper storage, of course.