Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2019

Name: Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac
Brand: Château Lafite Rothschild
Price: 2660.74 GBP

Available Vintages

all 1994 1995 1996 2000 2002 2007 2009 2013 2014 2015 2016 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

justerini & brooks tasting note

Very closed, a dark abyss, squid ink and coal. Introvert, as ever. On the palate, there’s a floral element on the finish which provides a flourish after taut layers of minerals and fine cabernet fruit – very very delicate yet persistent tannic weave, like the finest linen. The entire weave of this wine seems so fine that its hard to see into, but that’s not a bad thing, it has simply been made with much precision, lovely freshness underpinning flavours that are for now very much on the savoury side, with pippy, early autumn blackberry tang bringing a sense of life and lift. While there’s huge power here, as evidenced by the length on the finish, it is handled with great balance and poise. Feels like a wine that knows it’s going to be great, but doesn’t need to shout about it yet. A truly outstanding Lafite!

critic reviews

98/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2019 Lafite-Rothschild has a most earthy bouquet with warm gravel and black olive scents percolating through the black fruit. Warm bricks on a hot sunny afternoon. The palate is medium-bodied with gorgeous, saturated yet firm tannins that frame the layers of mineral-laden black fruit. This is a live wire, so tensile and focused towards the finish with a fabulously long aftertaste. Marvelous. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2065

date of review 02/2023

97/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

The 2019 Lafite Rothschild is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep purple-black in color, it needs a lot of swirling to start to unravel notes of black cherries, boysenberries, and crushed blackcurrants, followed by nuances of fragrant earth, iron ore, tree bark, and cumin seed with a waft of cloves. Medium-bodied, very elegant, restrained, and refined, the palate quivers with tension and shimmers with energy, with delicate fruit framed by firm tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long. This is one for the long haul.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2065

date of review 05/2022

98/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

There is a sense of discretion to this Lafite, full of pencil lead, crayon, chalk-textured minerality, clear grain and grip to the tannins that lets everything unfold slowly and calmly, no drama and yet a slow-building sense of power. Enjoyable precision and chiseling to the spiced cassis and bilberry fruits, this feels supremely Lafite in its balance and finesse. The tight structure relaxes in the glass, adding a layer of creaminess to the blackberry and loganberry fruit. A large majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, and it takes up its dominant role with grace. Brilliant quality. Harvest September 19 to October 7. Lafite always takes its time to show its full potential, and this could easily be a 100 point wine at the 10 year-plus window.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2050

date of review 01/2022