Château MARCELIN LAFFITTE 1924
A former estate, now defunct, in the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation, Château Marcelin Laffitte belongs to the history of the great sweet wines of the Garonne’s right bank. A few bottles still survive on the market for old vintages, bearing witness to the rich, delicately time-worn style of Bordeaux sweets of yesteryear.
Considered a very fine vintage for Bordeaux sweet wines, 1924 delivered high ripeness and lovely concentration, conducive to wines with long cellaring potential. The rare bottles still in circulation bear the vintage on the capsule and/or the cork, a period detail often sought after by collectors.
The expected colour is amber to mahogany, bright. The nose unfolds a rich tertiary palette: candied orange peel, dried apricot, waxy honey, saffron, black tea, delicate rancio. The palate, unctuous yet balanced, retains an acid backbone that supports the wine and extends a very persistent finish with accents of sweet spices and candied fruit. For a centenarian wine of this type, bottle variation is natural (fill level, cork condition, storage) and part of the charm of great old sweet wines. Serve chilled but not cold (11–12 °C), with a very short decant if needed. Ideal pairings: foie gras, blue cheeses (Roquefort, Stilton), roast poultry with crispy skin, desserts with yellow fruits (tarte Tatin, roasted pineapple), or simply as a meditation wine.
No longer produced today: each bottle is a heritage piece from the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation, neighbour to Sauternes and Barsac, illustrating the classicism of Bordeaux’s great sweet wines from the first half of the 20th century. The vintage 2024 [sic] is indicated both on the original cork and engraved on the capsule (as was done at the time).
Grape varieties: Sémillon, complemented by Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.
