Lafite Rothschild
About Château Lafite Rothschild
Château Lafite-Rothschild is one of the most collectable wines in the world. Purchased in 1868 it has remained continuously in the Rothschild family. Less powerful than Latour and more classical than Mouton, the hallmarks of this wine of wines is a taut, lithe, willowy muscularity, enveloped by transcendent just-ripe black fruit with the perfect sweetness of blackcurrant, black cherry and plum. The scent of Lafite often beguiles its fortunate drinkers and the mythical, irresistible perfume of wonderful cedar, so fresh and elegant, must be experienced to be believed.
Part of Lafite’s centuries-long success lies in its situation on some of the most gravel-dominant terroir in the Médoc. Up to ten metres deep with the stuff in some places, there are a few pockets of aeolian black sand and bedrock of limestone to complete the soils. Naturally conducive to the production of the most unbelievable Cabernet Sauvignon, the Grand Vin of Château Lafite Rothschild is frequently composed of up to 90% of the varietal. Couple this with the outstandingly talented team, headed for 40 years by the imperious Charles Chevallier (until 2018), and we have an estate whose strength lies in its being “a spectrum of flavours rather than a strong expression of any particular one” in the words of Chevallier’s replacement, Eric Kohler.
The 1996 vintage onwards heralded some of the best wines in their history; 2003 and 2009 are notably outstanding. Elegant, fresh, with great fruit purity and remarkable ageing potential. The second wine, Carruades de Lafite, has also been intensely collected over the past decade.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bordeaux | 13 | - |
Inc. VAT
£489.60 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 87 (VN (ST)) |
Inc. VAT
£481.20 |
|||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87)Dark ruby-red. Withdrawn aromas of currant and herbs. Dry and quite closed, with limited sweetness. Flavors of plum, leather and currant leaf show only modest ripeness. Firm acids give this wine a slight sour edge. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 91 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£261.60 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (91)There are 20,000 cases of the gorgeous 2003 Carruades de Lafite. Despite record heat in June, July and August, this wine only hit 12.8% alcohol, which seems modest compared to the higher alcohol levels of 2009 and 2010. A final blend of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a second wine with a Lafite Rothschild-like character, plenty of creme de cassis, cedarwood and graphite notes as well as a supple, lush texture. It has reached full maturity where it should remain for another 5-10 years. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 92 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£2,610.04 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (92)Firm tannins and great freshness, with a touch of bitter chocolate as well as spice and tight tannins. This second wine of Lafite is attractively fruity, easily lifting the weight of tannins. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,879.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Currants and blackberries on the nose. Spicy and intense undertones. Full body, with juicy fruit and a soft, very silky texture and a long, long finish. Polished and very pretty. Best Carruades ever. Try in 2018. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£573.20 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,730.44 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£470.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (94)Lead-pencil aromas with currants and plums, too. Full body, silky tannins and a focused and very refined finish. It's the tannins that drive things. An excellent second wine of Lafite. Needs two or three years to soften. Start drinking in 2021. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£2,127.64 |
|||||
James Suckling (94)Lead-pencil aromas with currants and plums, too. Full body, silky tannins and a focused and very refined finish. It's the tannins that drive things. An excellent second wine of Lafite. Needs two or three years to soften. Start drinking in 2021. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 94-95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,872.04 |
|||||
James Suckling (94-95)The most tannic and textured Carruades ever. Full-bodied, big and powerful. Very, very long. New style? |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 92-93 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,999.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (92-93)A bright Carruades with cedar and tobacco character. Medium to full body and medium chewy tannins. Very pretty center palate. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 4 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,760.44 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Exquisitely fine tannins to the currant, lead-pencil and chocolate character. The palate is full, yet very refined and linear with a long, lingering finish. Such polish and tension. The tannins are intense, yet so fine, giving almost a powdery texture. So Lafite-like. Best Carruades ever? 56% cabernet sauvignon and 38% merlot, the rest cabernet franc. Drink after 2026. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 3 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,645.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)This is a beautiful Carraudes with currant, sweet-tobacco and wet-earth aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with a dense center-palate and tight, polished tannins. Fresh, with tension. Reminds me of the 1995 Lafite. This is so Lafite in character. It shows so much cabernet sauvignon character. It’s 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot and the rest cabernet franc. Try after 2026. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£293.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (96-97)This is very classically structured with a palate that starts off slowly. Full-bodied and chewy with a soft, creamy texture and a long finish. Savory. A touch austere. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 3% cabernet franc, the rest petit verdot. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,552.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (96-97)This is very classically structured with a palate that starts off slowly. Full-bodied and chewy with a soft, creamy texture and a long finish. Savory. A touch austere. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 3% cabernet franc, the rest petit verdot. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 94-95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,420.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (94-95)Soft and attractive character to this wine, showing a polished-tannin frame and a juicy center-palate. Medium body with medium, velvety tannins. Juicy. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,442.09 |
|||||
James Suckling (96-97)Extremely perfumed with sweet tobacco and blackcurrants as well as cedar and dark chocolate. Aromatic. Medium-bodied with an intense center palate of blackcurrant, orange peel and peaches. Nervy. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. |
|||||||||
Carruades de Lafite
(6x75cl)
2023
|
|
Bordeaux | - | - |
Expected Price Range
£902 -
£1,071
|
||||
|
Bordeaux | 6 | - |
Inc. VAT
£1,354.80 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£3,719.60 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£966.00 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 86-88 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,098.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (86-88)The 1957, while not great, is nevertheless surprisingly good (twice I have rated it in the 86-88 range). |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 70 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,098.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (70)(Magnum) |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 80 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£940.40 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (80)Given the overblown praise for the 1961, 1966, and 1970 Lafites, it seems as though the 1964, a wine obviously made after the rains, is a wine that has taken more criticism than it deserves. Not that it is sublime or profound, but it has consistently shown a chunky, fruity character, and a whiff of some of Lafite's fabulous bouquet. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 7/82. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 72 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£768.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (72)This is a vintage in which Lafite could certainly have done better. Light ruby with browning very much in evidence, this wine in the mid-1970s had a fragrant, spicy, charming bouquet, easygoing, simple fruity flavors, and light tannins. Now it is quite tired with old, faded, fruit flavors. Drink up! Anticipated maturity: Now-probably in serious decline. Last tasted, 12/80. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£849.60 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 11 | 93 (VT) |
Inc. VAT
£798.00 |
|||||
Vintage Tastings (93)The Lafite had a bit of volatile acidity to it, but some nice pencil, cedar and roasted fruit behind it. It was tender and slightly rich in the mouth, with a leathery finish. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 5 | - |
Inc. VAT
£937.20 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£740.00 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 10 | - |
Inc. VAT
£871.45 |
|||||
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bordeaux | 13 | - |
Inc. VAT
£489.60 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 87 (VN (ST)) |
Inc. VAT
£481.20 |
|||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87)Dark ruby-red. Withdrawn aromas of currant and herbs. Dry and quite closed, with limited sweetness. Flavors of plum, leather and currant leaf show only modest ripeness. Firm acids give this wine a slight sour edge. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 91 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£261.60 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (91)There are 20,000 cases of the gorgeous 2003 Carruades de Lafite. Despite record heat in June, July and August, this wine only hit 12.8% alcohol, which seems modest compared to the higher alcohol levels of 2009 and 2010. A final blend of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a second wine with a Lafite Rothschild-like character, plenty of creme de cassis, cedarwood and graphite notes as well as a supple, lush texture. It has reached full maturity where it should remain for another 5-10 years. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 92 (WE) |
In Bond
£2,159.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (92)Firm tannins and great freshness, with a touch of bitter chocolate as well as spice and tight tannins. This second wine of Lafite is attractively fruity, easily lifting the weight of tannins. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,550.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Currants and blackberries on the nose. Spicy and intense undertones. Full body, with juicy fruit and a soft, very silky texture and a long, long finish. Polished and very pretty. Best Carruades ever. Try in 2018. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£475.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,426.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (JS) |
In Bond
£389.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (94)Lead-pencil aromas with currants and plums, too. Full body, silky tannins and a focused and very refined finish. It's the tannins that drive things. An excellent second wine of Lafite. Needs two or three years to soften. Start drinking in 2021. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,757.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (94)Lead-pencil aromas with currants and plums, too. Full body, silky tannins and a focused and very refined finish. It's the tannins that drive things. An excellent second wine of Lafite. Needs two or three years to soften. Start drinking in 2021. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 94-95 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,544.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (94-95)The most tannic and textured Carruades ever. Full-bodied, big and powerful. Very, very long. New style? |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 92-93 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,650.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (92-93)A bright Carruades with cedar and tobacco character. Medium to full body and medium chewy tannins. Very pretty center palate. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 4 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,451.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Exquisitely fine tannins to the currant, lead-pencil and chocolate character. The palate is full, yet very refined and linear with a long, lingering finish. Such polish and tension. The tannins are intense, yet so fine, giving almost a powdery texture. So Lafite-like. Best Carruades ever? 56% cabernet sauvignon and 38% merlot, the rest cabernet franc. Drink after 2026. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 3 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,355.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)This is a beautiful Carraudes with currant, sweet-tobacco and wet-earth aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with a dense center-palate and tight, polished tannins. Fresh, with tension. Reminds me of the 1995 Lafite. This is so Lafite in character. It shows so much cabernet sauvignon character. It’s 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot and the rest cabernet franc. Try after 2026. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
In Bond
£241.50 |
|||||
James Suckling (96-97)This is very classically structured with a palate that starts off slowly. Full-bodied and chewy with a soft, creamy texture and a long finish. Savory. A touch austere. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 3% cabernet franc, the rest petit verdot. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,277.50 |
|||||
James Suckling (96-97)This is very classically structured with a palate that starts off slowly. Full-bodied and chewy with a soft, creamy texture and a long finish. Savory. A touch austere. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 3% cabernet franc, the rest petit verdot. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 94-95 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,167.50 |
|||||
James Suckling (94-95)Soft and attractive character to this wine, showing a polished-tannin frame and a juicy center-palate. Medium body with medium, velvety tannins. Juicy. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,182.50 |
|||||
James Suckling (96-97)Extremely perfumed with sweet tobacco and blackcurrants as well as cedar and dark chocolate. Aromatic. Medium-bodied with an intense center palate of blackcurrant, orange peel and peaches. Nervy. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. |
|||||||||
Carruades de Lafite
(6x75cl)
2023
|
|
Bordeaux | - | - |
Expected Price Range
£902 -
£1,071
|
||||
|
Bordeaux | 6 | - |
Inc. VAT
£1,354.80 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | - |
In Bond
£3,097.00 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£966.00 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 86-88 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,098.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (86-88)The 1957, while not great, is nevertheless surprisingly good (twice I have rated it in the 86-88 range). |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 70 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,098.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (70)(Magnum) |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 80 (WA) |
In Bond
£781.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (80)Given the overblown praise for the 1961, 1966, and 1970 Lafites, it seems as though the 1964, a wine obviously made after the rains, is a wine that has taken more criticism than it deserves. Not that it is sublime or profound, but it has consistently shown a chunky, fruity character, and a whiff of some of Lafite's fabulous bouquet. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 7/82. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 72 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£768.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (72)This is a vintage in which Lafite could certainly have done better. Light ruby with browning very much in evidence, this wine in the mid-1970s had a fragrant, spicy, charming bouquet, easygoing, simple fruity flavors, and light tannins. Now it is quite tired with old, faded, fruit flavors. Drink up! Anticipated maturity: Now-probably in serious decline. Last tasted, 12/80. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£849.60 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 11 | 93 (VT) |
Inc. VAT
£798.00 |
|||||
Vintage Tastings (93)The Lafite had a bit of volatile acidity to it, but some nice pencil, cedar and roasted fruit behind it. It was tender and slightly rich in the mouth, with a leathery finish. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 5 | - |
Inc. VAT
£937.20 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | - |
In Bond
£614.00 |
|||||
|
Bordeaux | 10 | - |
In Bond
£723.00 |
|||||