2019 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

100 POINTS

James Suckling

So much sweet tobacco, Spanish cedar, dried flowers, dark mushrooms and roses. Really aromatic. This is so polished and very powerful, yet ethereal and refined at the same time. The finish goes on for minutes. Tight and harmonious. You want to drink it! So balanced, yet it will age beautifully. It will be this good forever. 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Better after 2031.

100 POINTS

James Suckling

Complex aromas of blackcurrants and lead pencil. Incredible. Graphite and tar. Stunning. It’s full-bodied, yet shows such harmony and polish. Elegance and complexity with finesse. The tannins are so integrated and endless. It goes on for minutes. 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 1% petit verdot.

100 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff Magazine

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the edge. A hint of nougat, ripe cherries, a hint of cassis, fresh orange zest, a hint of fine oak, very inviting. Complex, full-bodied, ripe black cherry fruit, pleasant fruitiness, silky tannins, freshly structured, mineral, a hint of chocolate. Incredibly seductive even at this early stage, great length, certain ageing potential, a wine of enormous charm and great finesse.

98 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter Magazine

Performs the trick of being immediately succulent and mouthwatering while simultaneously revving up and building power through the palate. You're getting sapidity and savoury black fruits that are both elegant and full of power. The spicy rosemary and black pepper, with slate-textured minerality, is almost unnoticeable until it closes in on the final stretch, helping to stretch things out, beat by beat, adding energy and lift. One half of the 5% Merlot in this blend is from plots that have never before been used in Lafite's 1st wine, because their drone and satellite research discovered three tiny areas that were similar in character and could be vinified together. They have worked on this for the past three years, successfully so for first time in 2019. It just holds on tight, with a creaminess that you don't always find in Lafite at this early stage. A brilliant wine, one that could be upscored from this when in bottle. Harvest September 19 to October 7.