Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2016
Lafite certainly features amongst our wines of the vintage - classically styled with perhaps just a dash more immediate allure than usual - it's a very appealing prospect with its ethereal bouquet of potpourri, graphite infused black cherry and crème de cassis. Structurally this is towering and serious, a grand, statuesque Lafite that will need considerable time to reveal itself fully. The palate is deeply concentrated with stony, raspberry pip hints, bright, bejewelled fruits; super-sleek and utterly engaging. The finish is momentous, a lovely saline touch and tannins with the most refined texture that focus the palate towards a sweet cassis finish. What a very smart Lafite - one of the most sophisticated wines of 2016. Lafite back to its best!
critic reviews
The 2016 Lafite-Rothschild has a straight-down-the-line classic Pauillac bouquet with ebullient black fruit, graphite and sous-bois scents, the most classical of the First Growths. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Lovely balance, gentle grip, perhaps not quite as complex on the finish as Latour, holding something back for now. Classical restraint. Tasted at the 10-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index.
A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2016 Lafite Rothschild is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of swirling and shaking to unlock notes of redcurrant jelly, wild blueberries, and cassis, followed by suggestions of tar, licorice, crushed rocks, forest floor, and black truffles, plus an emerging waft of lilacs. Medium-bodied, the palate is taut with muscular black fruits and mineral layers, supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with loads of earthy sparks. Needs a lot of time!