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

    Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac,

    Destination

    vintage

    Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 1982

    Justerini & Brooks Tasting note
    Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 1982
    ABV:
    13%
    97/100
    Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
    Saturated inky colour, with intense ruby reflections. This is a classically constructed Lafite, with clear power to the tannins and intense spice, a little more upfront and concentrated than you find in many En Primeur vintages at this property but it exemplifies balance and confidence. Fully in control, delivering estate signature with finesse and understatement, with pulses of graphite, slate, bitter almond and cocoa bean. Takes its time to uncurl in the glass, leaving you plenty of time to admire its architecture. Give it a good decade at least. 17.5% of press wine, 3.85ph, 41% Lafite of overall production. Harvest August 31 to September 24, earliest since 1893. 100% new oak, Eric Kohler techincal director. Potential upscore in bottle.
    Date Reviewed:
    05/2023
    Drinking Window:
    2032 - 2052
    98-100/100
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
    Composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Lafite Rothschild is deep garnet-purple in color. The nose is almost impenetrable to start, needing a lot of shaking to wake up delicate scents of crushed red and black currants, raspberry leaves, warm plums, and boysenberries, followed by hints of crushed rocks, damp earth, lilacs, and Jasmine tea, with just a hint of orange peel. The palate is classic great Lafite, featuring incredibly tightly knit layers of black fruits, minerals, and floral notes bound with a rock-solid structure of exquisitely fine, very firm tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. This is an intellectual triumph, but don't think about touching it for 10-15 years. pH 3.85.
    Date Reviewed:
    05/2023
    Drinking Window:
    2034 - 2074
    96-98/100
    Neal Martin, Vinous
    The 2022 Lafite-Rothschild was picked from 31 August to 24 September and apart from the 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, there is 17.5% pressed wine in the blend. The IPT is slightly lower than 2020. There is 13.6% alcohol this year, higher than 2018 and 2019. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, crushed stone, touches of pencil box and undergrowth, very Lafite-Rothschild in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, perfectly judged acidity, linear and focused. Compared to vintages a couple of decades ago, there is mid-palate weight, yet it retains classicism and transparency, while delivering quite a gentle but insistent grip on the finish. Perpetually the most deceptive of First Growth, one should not doubt its long-term potential.
    Date Reviewed:
    05/2023
    Drinking Window:
    2032 - 2075

    specifications

    country:
    France
    region:
    Bordeaux
    Appellation:
    Pauillac
    Producer:
    Château Lafite Rothschild
    style:
    Red
    Grape Variety:
    Cab Sauvignon Merlot
    Allergen Information:
    This product may contain sulphites. Full allergen information is available upon request, please call our Customer Relations Team on +44 (0)20 7484 6430.

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    Château Lafite Rothschild

    Château Lafite Rothschild

    Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Première Cru Classé, is revered throughout the wine-drinking world: a modern-day phenomenon, a super-brand, probably the most recognisable brand from Bordeaux. And lest we forget, maker of some of the most distinguished, impressive, classic wines, anywhere on the planet.

    Lafite was well-loved in the British market throughout the 17th century and a favourite amongst many notable dignitaries including Robert Walpole. Through this time the estate belonged to the Ségur family, who also owned Calon Ségur, Phelan Ségur and for a short time Mouton. With such a wine-making dynasty at the helm it is no surprise that the reputation of the estate grew.

    By the time of the revolution, the estate was in the hands of a Ségur descendant, Nicolas Pierre de Pichard; however, the guillotine cut short his reign and ended the family's involvement. A string of owners followed, and at the time of the 1855 Classification, Lafite was owned by a Dutch family and under the management an English bank. The Vanlerberghe descendants elected to sell their holding in 1866 to a rather more famous banking empire, the Rothschilds, and the rest, as they say, is history.

    Baron Éric de Rothschild stepped down in 2021 after almost 40 years at Lafite. He was succeeded by his daughter, Saskia, who is ably assisted by technical director, Eric Kohler and Jean-Sébastien Philippe. Their wines are outstanding, and rightly lauded for their precision, complexity, and effortless grace. Modern day examples blend classical Pauillac flavours with cutting-edge winemaking technology – the results are sensational.

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