CHÂTEAU LAFITE ROTHSCHILD 1978 PAUILLAC - VINTAGE BORDEAUX WINE BOTTLE

OVERVIEW:
A VINTAGE BOTTLE OF CHÂTEAU LAFITE ROTHSCHILD FROM THE 1978 VINTAGE, ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS BORDEAUX ESTATES. THE BOTTLE BEARS THE ORIGINAL CHÂTEAU LABEL INDICATING 'MIS EN BOUTEILLES AU CHÂTEAU' (BOTTLED AT THE CHÂTEAU), CONFIRMING AUTHENTIC ESTATE BOTTLING. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT COLLECTIBLE FROM THE LAFITE PORTFOLIO, THOUGH THE BOTTLE SHOWS CONSIDERABLE AGE-RELATED WEAR CONSISTENT WITH NEARLY FIVE DECADES OF STORAGE.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- CHÂTEAU: CHÂTEAU LAFITE ROTHSCHILD, PAUILLAC, BORDEAUX
- VINTAGE: 1978
- APPELLATION: PAUILLAC (MÉDOC)
- BOTTLE FORMAT: STANDARD 750ML BORDEAUX BOTTLE
- CLOSURE: ORIGINAL CORK WITH FOIL CAPSULE
- LABEL: ORIGINAL PAPER LABEL, CHÂTEAU ENGRAVING WITH VINEYARD ILLUSTRATION
- BOTTLING: CHÂTEAU BOTTLED (ESTATE BOTTLED)

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:
THE LABEL EXHIBITS SUBSTANTIAL DETERIORATION TYPICAL OF BOTTLES STORED IN VARIABLE CONDITIONS OVER 48 YEARS. APPROXIMATELY 40 PERCENT OF THE LABEL PAPER HAS BEEN LOST THROUGH FLAKING AND SEPARATION, WITH REMAINING SECTIONS SHOWING SIGNIFICANT FOXING AND DISCOLOURATION. THE FOIL CAPSULE DISPLAYS HEAVY OXIDATION WITH DARK BROWN AND BLACK PATINA THROUGHOUT, INDICATING EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE AND AGE. THE GLASS BOTTLE ITSELF REMAINS STRUCTURALLY SOUND WITH NO VISIBLE CRACKS, CHIPS, OR FRACTURES. THE WINE LEVEL IS NOTICEABLY LOW, SUGGESTING EITHER CORK FAILURE ALLOWING EVAPORATION OR SEEPAGE OVER THE STORAGE PERIOD. VISIBLE SEDIMENT IS PRESENT IN THE BOTTLE, CONSISTENT WITH A MATURE BORDEAUX WINE. THE CORK CONDITION CANNOT BE FULLY ASSESSED WITHOUT OPENING THE BOTTLE, THOUGH THE LOW WINE LEVEL RAISES CONCERNS REGARDING SEAL INTEGRITY.

PROVENANCE AND COLLECTIBILITY:
THIS BOTTLE REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF BORDEAUX WINE HISTORY FROM THE 1978 VINTAGE, A YEAR THAT PRODUCED QUALITY WINES IN THE PAUILLAC REGION. CHÂTEAU LAFITE ROTHSCHILD REMAINS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST SOUGHT-AFTER WINE PRODUCERS. HOWEVER, THE CONDITION OF THIS PARTICULAR BOTTLE—WITH COMPROMISED LABEL INTEGRITY AND LOW FILL LEVEL—SUGGESTS IT MAY BE MORE SUITABLE FOR A COLLECTOR INTERESTED IN THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BOTTLE RATHER THAN FOR CONSUMPTION. THE LOW WINE LEVEL AND VISIBLE SEDIMENT INDICATE THIS BOTTLE WOULD REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT BY A WINE SPECIALIST BEFORE ANY CONSIDERATION OF OPENING OR DECANTING.

Item Size: Height: 40cm, Width: 30cm, Depth: 30cm, Weight: 2Kg

Condition: Fair

997520+9

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