Chateau Lafite with lake, cellars, and offices - pictured in April 2016
Lafite Rothschild is one of Bordeaux's five 1. Crus is situated just before the border of Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. It's located on the left side of the road, a few hundred meters after you pass the lieu-dit Le Pouyalet on the outskirts of Pauillac. You'll notice a small lake in front of the cellars and a château visible from the road.
The vineyard comprises the hillsides surrounding the property, the Carruades plateau to the west, and 4.5 hectares in the neighboring village of Saint Estèphe. One hundred twelve hectares of soil are composed of fine, deep gravel mixed with sand on a limestone subsoil. The grape varieties planted are Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (3%), and Petit Verdot (2%). The average age of the vines used for Grand Vin is around 45 years old, and the oldest plot dates back to 1886.
Every plot is vinified in separate vats. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in both wooden and stainless steel vats, while malolactic fermentation occurs in these same vessels. Grand Vin is kept in 100% new oak for 18 to 20 months.
Lafite Rothschild is a magnificent wine with an incredibly complex and flavorful nose that develops further with age. Cabernet Sauvignon rules here, so that this wine can taste very backward and tannic when young. However, with some age, you'll find incredible richness, depth, and awesome length in this wine.
In January 2016, Charles Chevallier, Lafite's technical manager, retired, and his long-time assistant, Eric Kohler, took over.
Eric Kohler conducts a tasting of 2016s. April 2019
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Lafite Rothschild 2023 (barrel sample) 98+p.
Tasted in April 2024. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. 13.2% alcohol. It is rawer and oakier than in recent vintages, but remains multi-dimensional and sophisticated, with excellent mid-palate, perfect acidity, and a remarkably long aftertaste. Fabulous stuff.
Lafite Rothschild 2022 99-100p
Tasted twice - last time in February 2025. 94% C. Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% P. Verdot. 13.7% alcohol. Consistent notes. This wine, as always, had a multitude of layers to explore. Everything was stunning, from a deeply intense nose of perfectly aromatic black fruit and flowers to an excellently structured palate, velvety and full of luscious fruit and silky tannin, a seamless midpalate, and a mega-long finish lasting more than one minute. A legend in the making!
Lafite Rothschild 2021 97p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2024. Consistent notes. 96% C. Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% P. Verdot. 12.6% alcohol. This wine had, understandably, many layers to rely on. Everything was great, from an aromatic nose of great intensity to an excellently structured palate with cashmere-like fruit and tannin, a splendid midpalate, and a long finish with excellent persistency. Tremendous effort!
Lafite Rothschild 2019 99-100p
Tasted in November 2021. 94% C. Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% P. Verdot, 13% alcohol. Very classy blackcurrant nose, intense and refined. Excellent structure and length. The feel was like drinking liquid cashmere. It was so aristocratic and sophisticated on the palate, with fantastic complexity and length. Eternal stuff!
Lafite Rothschild 2018 100p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2021. Consistent notes. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot. Please note one thing here: the alcohol level stops at 13.6%! It was a monster of a wine: powerful and elegant, incredibly aromatic on the nose, with thick, dense, rich fruit, tannin, great structure, and complexity, and a remarkably long finish. Ballerina moves. It is undoubtedly one of the legendary wines in the 2018 vintage!
Lafite Rothschild 2017 (barrel sample) 98+p
Tasted in April 2018. 96% Cabernet Sauvignon + 3.5% Merlot + 0.5% Petit Verdot. This property produced a dense and polished wine, characterized by its trademark elegance and finesse, complemented by richness and a sophisticated touch. It's fantastic stuff and one of the very best wines of the vintage.
Lafite Rothschild 2016 99-100p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2019. Consistent notes. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot + 0.5% Petit Verdot. Incredibly precise, refined, sophisticated, rich, and complex, with a fabulous structure and length. Awesome effort. You won't be able to find Lafite's striking elegance and finesse in many other wines in Bordeaux. For sure, a legend is in the making!
Lafite Rothschild 2015 98-99p
Tasted twice - last time in November 2021. Consistent notes. 91% C. Sauvignon + 9% Merlot, 12.5% alcohol. Simply a fabulous nose of red berries and graphite, mesmerizing on the palate with captivating intensity, complexity, and depth. Multilayered and sophisticated. Silky fruit and grained tannin. Long, lingering finish. Fantastic wine.
Lafite Rothschild 2014 (barrel sample) 95+p
Tasted in April 2015. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Closed and oaky, but there are enough ingredients to turn this wine into a standout one.
Lafite Rothschild 2013 (barrel sample) 94p
Tasted in April 2014. A significant graphite flavor (minerality), fine acidity, splendid structure and complexity, richness, and great harmony between fruit and tannin. A gentle dose of new oak this time!
Lafite Rothschild 2012 95p
Tasted twice - last time in November 2015. Not consistent notes. It was not impressive from the barrel when tasted in April 2013 as it was painfully oaky, low-key, and had a relatively short finish. I wondered if it would improve dramatically after aging in oak and after bottling. It certainly did! Incredibly seductive wine! It had an intense, flavored nose, sheer power, and stunning length.
Lafite Rothschild 2011 95+p
Tasted twice - last time in November 2014. Consistent notes. Excellently flavored nose with dark cherries and grated chocolate, sophisticated with finesse and elegance. It was lighter than usual but remarkably complex, refined, and long. Seductive stuff.
Lafite Rothschild 2010 97-99p
Tasted twice - last time in January 2020. This wine was intense, extraordinarily tannic, and concentrated, with an iron rock structure and mega-long aftertaste. One of the finest wines of the vintage. In January 2020, the blend consisted of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. It has a very aromatic, scented nose with a sophisticated touch. It is distinguished and incredibly complex; it adheres to the tongue, allowing it to be sliced into "tranches," is remarkably structured, and has an excellent long finish. Amazing stuff.
Lafite Rothschild 2009 99p
Tasted twice - last time in January 2017. Consistent notes. Tasted during the 2009 vintage tasting of nine wines from a case of Duclot, a negociant (owner of Petrus), Bordeaux Collection. Double decanted, served app. Five and a half hours later, he had a different style than his closest rival, Mouton-Rothschild. Remarkable finesse and elegance in this 1. Growth is renowned for its distinctive flavors of roasted bacon, cedarwood, and tobacco leaves, offering an extremely delicate, refined, and extended aftertaste. A perfectly composed wine that is undoubtedly destined to achieve a perfect score in the coming years!
Lafite Rothschild 2008 (barrel sample) 95-96p
I tasted it in March 2009. It is relatively backward and tannic but extremely promising, with Excellent concentration and length. It needs time to reveal its secrets.
Lafite Rothschild 2007 (barrel sample) 93-94p
I tasted it in April 2008. It is an elegant style, lighter than usual, which is understandable given the vintage's history. Silky fruit and tannin, well-balanced, with a pretty long finish. To drink before the big vintages are ready.
Lafite Rothschild 2006 (barrel sample) 94-95p
I tasted it in April 2007. It was an incredibly well-balanced wine, with silky blackcurrant notes and smooth tannins. It is refined and sophisticated with many nuances. It's different from the super-concentrated 2005 version, but we still have a high class here.
Lafite Rothschild 2005 100p
I tasted it twice—the last time in May 2008. It is a dark red. This wine is immense. The first thing I noticed was a simply fantastic nose of perfectly ripe blackcurrants with incredibly aromatic fireworks. It showed enormous power, length, and aftertaste and was silky everywhere. There was pure elegance and a sophisticated touch, too. True and majestic 1. Growth par excellence!!
Lafite Rothschild 2004 (barrel sample) 96+p
Tasted in April 2005. This was a real thrill. Sublime everywhere, with a velvety texture, silky tannins, exquisite depth and structure, and great length. Racy and sophisticated. For sure, it can last for 20-25 years.
Lafite Rothschild 2003 100p
Tasted in September 2023. 86% C. Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% C. Franc and 2% P. Verdot. 12.5% alcohol. The harvest took place between September 8th and 24th. Despite outrageous temperatures in the first half of August (over 40 degrees C), Lafite vines didn't suffer. The 2003 Lafite is considered one of the best vintages this property has ever produced, and my first encounter with this wine was a confirmation of its quality and pure joy. Sublime on the nose, sublime on the palate, with a cashmere-like texture, silky, vibrant, and fabulous mid-palate, accompanied by a long aftertaste that refused to go away, etc. Eternal wine!
Lafite Rothschild 2002 96p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2022. Not consistent notes. What an extensive range of nuances and a fantastic aroma of leather, dark cherries, and blueberries. It is extremely sophisticated and with stunning depth. This wine is a knock-out! These notes are from April 2003. In April 2022, 19 years later, this wine completely closed down, and we have to wait and see if it opens again. In 5 or 10 years?
Lafite Rothschild 2000 100p
Tasted four times - last time in January 2020. Consistent notes. A legend and perfectionism at the phantom level. Here, one's senses were working at full capacity to capture all the nuances that this wine possesses. This wine embodies the true essence of Bordeaux; it's unique and unimitable. In full blossom in December 2016, my bottle was purchased en primeur. Closed the "doors" entirely in January 2020 (ex-chateau bottle).
Lafite Rothschild 1999 92p
Tasted in September 2002. Pretty nose, full of flavors. It is very elegant, refined, and complex—a notable effort for the vintage.
Lafite Rothschild 1996 99p
Tasted in June 1998. It was very classy, with finesse, richness, and length, incredibly complex and deep on the palate, beautifully constructed, and had a great finish. Fantastic effort!
Lafite Rothschild 1985 96p
Tasted in November 2015. Powerful, intense, with lots of fruit and tannin, this wine has perfect balance and a big, meaty aftertaste. Not as distinguished as Mouton Rothschild tasted on the same flight, but who cares? Virile and still feeling young. Powerhouse! There are many years to go.
Lafite Rothschild 1982 97+p
Tasted in October 1994. Incredibly refined and sophisticated aromas on the nose, aristocratic, great complexity, and richness. It is a simply outstanding wine with 50 years more life in it!
Lafite Rothschild 1955 96p
Tasted in December 1990. Fantastically ripe and aromatic nose with finesse and sophisticated touch. It is not a powerful wine, but rather an elegant one, like a ballerina, and it is a very captivating wine. Fabulous effort.
Lafite Rothschild 1949 96p
I tasted it in March 2019 during dinner at Domaine de Chevalier. It continues to hold up well with the passage of time, maintaining its elegance, finesse, and sophisticated touch. It has a captivating sweetness, is refined, and has a velvety aftertaste. It was a tremendous treat!
Lafite Rothschild 1945 95p
Tasted in May 2020. At first sip, it was immediately evident that something superb from Pauillac was waiting for us in the glass. Well-preserved cherries on the nose and palate, with acidity perfectly supported by fruit, resulting in pure elegance and a sophisticated touch, along with great complexity and a lingering finish. Well-stored wine, for sure.
Lafite Rothschild 1924 95p
Tasted in April 2014 during dinner at Domaine de Chevalier. It was a blast from the past, with an incredible nose of truffles, a truffy palate, riveting elegance, and remarkable complexity. Amazing wine.
Lafite Rothschild 1908 99p
Tasted in April 2018 during dinner at Domaine de Chevalier. It was recorked at the chateau in 2001. It's an absolute blast from the past, with an incredibly aromatic nose of truffles and cassis, and an extremely classy palate that boasts riveting elegance and remarkable complexity. It is an amazing 110-year-old wine from a barely heralded vintage.
Monumental wine!
Link to Wine-Searcher's Lafite Rothschild page here