Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2012

Produced from 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, this Lafite is probably the epitome of what a Cabernet Sauvignon wine should look like. Brooding, closed book, but with underlying complexity. Black cherry, toast, cèpe, violets, sandalwood, gentle inner perfume of small berry cassis and mulberry fruit. There is an intensely mineral character of graphite, pencil shavings, crushed rocks and earth. The palate is immense, vibrant, deep and multilayered. A muscular, powerful crème de cassis fruit core also has hints of high toned minerals; truly complex and very classy. This is a true, focussed, profound Pauillac; classic in structure and style and surely one of the wines of the vintage. Bravo!