2015 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Carruades de Lafite

94 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

Barrel Sample. This is a fine reflection of the quality of Pauillac. It has a serious tannic line that cuts through the black currant fruits, and an impressive amount of acidity. It develops slowly, giving plenty of time to admire the fruit along the way. 94 points

94 POINTS

James Suckling

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.

92 POINTS

Jeb Dunnuck

The second wine of Lafite Rothschild is the 2015 Carruades De Lafite and is a beautiful wine in its own right. Based on 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc brought up mostly in used barrels, it has classy notes of cassis and lead pencil shavings as well as a medium to full-bodied, elegant, beautifully balanced style on the palate. It’s not a massive wine by any stretch, yet it exudes class and elegance, and is already a joy to drink.

91 POINTS

Steven Spurrier - Decanter

A discreet nose of real finesse with the Lafite violets prettily present. While it seems on the light side now, time in barrel will add structure. 2020-2030

91 POINTS

Neal Martin - Wine Advocate

The 2015 Lafite Rothschild, which was bottled in May 2017, has a very refined bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, hints of cassis and violets, all beautifully defined. It is initially quite understated but blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly chalky tannin. The acidity here is perfectly pitched, lending tension and that sense of vibrancy that winemaker Eric Kohler talks about. It just seems to flow nicely along before fanning out toward the precise finish although I still believe that its proximity to Saint-Estèphe that suffered more pre-harvest rain possibly shaved off a little of what could have been. Nevertheless, this is a Lafite that seems to run like clockwork and it will surely give immense pleasure over the next 20 or 30 years. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2050.

91 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc and aged for 18 months in barrels, 10% new, the 2015 Carruades de Lafite is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and just a little closed at this youthful stage, revealing delicate notes of red and black plums, black cherries and dried herbs plus touches of pencil lead, cedar chest and beef drippings. Medium-bodied, refreshing and with a well-played chewy texture, although just a baby in terms of evolution, it has an accessible structure, finishing long and savory.

91 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2015 Carruades de Lafite is terrific. Pliant, supple and inviting, the 2015 offers notable radiance and suppleness, with pretty Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics to play off the racy fruit. Red plum, licorice and dried flowers lead into an effortless, pliant finish that adds to the wine's considerable appeal.