Chateau Lafon-Rochet 1985 (1x75cl)

This is a 1985 from Saint-Estephe, one of the left bank villages in Bordeaux, and it has spent about 40 years in the bottle. That is the appeal and also the risk: wines this old vary from bottle to bottle depending on how they were stored over the decades, so nobody can tell you in advance exactly what is inside.

Open it slowly, stand it upright for a day or two first, and have a decanter ready in case there is sediment. It suits a birth-year dinner, a milestone table, or a gift for a friend who already knows what old Bordeaux is about. Delivery in Hong Kong is free over HK$800, HK$80 below that, usually 2-5 business days.

Tasting notes

Mature left bank Bordeaux typically leans savoury rather than fruity - dried red fruit, tobacco leaf, forest floor, a dusty earthiness - with tannins that have softened over time.