Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 2020 - 1er Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The supreme Cru of Pauillac, Lafite owes its unrivalled finesse to the gravelly soil in the northern part of the appellation, on a limestone bedrock, with extremely rigorous selections that leave out more than half the harvest. Strongly marked by Cabernet Sauvignon, which often accounts for more than 90% of the blend, Lafite shines with notes of cedar and graphite that require more than fifteen years to blossom. The new team in charge of the estate (the duo Saskia de Rothschild and Éric Kohler) is committed to giving greater dimension to the wines, both grand vin and second.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

A former seigneury whose jurisdiction extended to the north of Pauillac, the estate owes its château to the Ségurs, Bordeaux parliamentarians and major vineyard owners, as well as a viticultural vocation established as early as the 17th century, which led to its elevation to the rank of 1ercru classé in 1855. But it owes much to the Rothschilds, who acquired it in 1868, that it has been protected from the divisions and transfers that have weakened so many prestigious estates. It also owes its modernization and high-performance tools, such as the famous circular cellar designed by Ricardo Bofill, to the team formed by Éric de Rothschild, at the helm since 1974, and Charles Chevallier, its technical director until 2016. These tools enable us to fully reveal the personality of an exceptional terroir planted with 112 ha of vines: a superb ridge of fine, deep gravel on a limestone subsoil. Éric Kohler took over as technical director of Lafite in 2016, while Charles Chevallier remains consultant and ambassador of the château.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

With an alcoholic strength of less than 13, Lafite demonstrates that the great Médoc breed is not to be found in richness, but in the subtlety and complexity of its aromas. Airy grace, superb definition, the wine lingers on the palate, prolonged by Lafite's mythical "graphite" tannins.

About the domain :

Lafite is the most refined of Médoc wines when, after a few years' ageing, it reveals its bewitching aromas of graphite and pencil lead. Tasting it is like discovering a unique touch and sap. A vast estate of 178 hectares, 105 of which are planted with vines, Lafite has belonged to the Rothschild family since 1868. The château also boasts one of the richest heritages of (very) old vintages in the world, which shows just how consistent the estate has been (with the exception of a few vintages). Saskia, daughter of Éric de Rothschild, took over as head of the group's properties in 2018, while Éric Kholer has overseen vinification since 2016. Of particular note in recent vintages is the progress made by the second wine, Les Carruades.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Structured, dense and highly concentrated, this is a magnificent wine. Its black fruit and density indicate the wine's power and longevity. At the same time, the wine has the elegance one always associates with this estate. Drink from 2028.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Astonishing aromas of tobacco, crushed stone, cigar box, currant, tar and lead pencil, as well as spice, iron and dried ginger. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and tight. Very compact and complex. Racy. Delicate and powerful. Notes of orange peel. A wine to contemplate. You have to understand it to understand the great Lafites of the past and those of the future. Only 12.8% alcohol. 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Best after 2030, but drink it if you get the chance.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Château Lafite-Rothschild 2020 is a sensational wine composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot, with a natural alcohol content of 12.8% and a pH of 3.94. This ultra-classic wine reveals a dense ruby/plum hue and a tight, layered bouquet of ripe cassis, smoky tobacco, freshly sharpened pencils, graphite and subtle spices. Perfectly balanced, deep, concentrated and layered, it has an incredible mid-palate, perfect tannins and a finish that makes you salivate. Refinement, elegance and perfection are the watchwords here. Unfortunately, it's not made for instant gratification and I wouldn't be surprised if it needs 15 years to reach the early stages of its optimal drinking period. He'll probably reach his 100th birthday in great shape. 2038-2113

Yves Beck

About the wine:

As usual, Lafite Rothschild positions itself with finesse and depth. The tannins are extremely precise, and the wine stands out for its 12.5% alcohol... deep and subtle, it doesn't try to show off, and has precise, buoyant, fine-grained tannins. You can feel its greatness, this unchanging element, even in wines that are in "hibernation" mode. Every year, it seems to me that Lafite rises above the vintage, following its own path, its own logic. For me, it's one of the greatest successes of the vintage. It doesn't crush anything, it speaks calmly, serenely, clearly. That's its essential strength. 2028-2055