Mid to light ruby with a hint of brown. Light but certainly refined on the nose with strong lead pencils. Even rather Cabernet Franc-like in its aromatic nature. Sweet start then rather firm and even slightly metallic on the palate. Great energy there. Flattering and ethereal. I could imagine some people finding it too light. Super refreshing. Difficult to imagine this sort of wine being made today. More transparent. Then it opens out in the glass and seems to gain depth. Only very, very slightly dry finish. But it blossoms beautifully in the glass. Putty, fragrance, sweet juiciness. So fluid. Freshness. Ethereal and the nose grew and grew – such fabulous lift... The most elegant wine by far here.
Tasted Sept 2009 - JR

On two occasions I rated the 1953 100 and on another occasion, nearly perfect. According to some old-timers, the wine has been fully mature for almost 30 years. It possesses that extraordinary Lafite fragrance of minerals, lead pencil, cedar, and spice. It is velvety-textured, wonderfully round, and sweet, but so well-delineated and balanced. It is best purchased today in magnum and larger formats unless you can be assured the wine came from a cold cellar and has not been traded frequently. Last tasted 10/94.

The 1953 Lafite-Rothschild surpassed my expectations. Deep in color with only a thin brick core, the bouquet is atypical for Lafite-Rothschild in that there is no holding back, rather an outpouring of blackberry, raspberry confit, crushed stone, pencil lead and a touch of spice, delivered with breathtaking poise and detail. It frankly knocks the 1953 Latour into a cocked hat, perhaps not least because it may be the only vintage that has the audaciousness of its rival. The palate is medium-bodied with crystalline delineation, a hold-onto-your-seats sense of focus that is equal to anything I have tasted from this era. Then it gracefully winds down towards quite a sensual and mineral-driven finish that exhausts all the superlatives and you are rendered tongue-tied by the prodigious brilliance of this wine. It redefines my perception of this First Growth. Tasted at the International Business & Wine First Growth Dinner at the Four Seasons. June 2018