Chateau Lafite Rothschild - Carruades de Lafite 2022

JAMES SUCKLING: "Extremely perfumed with sweet tobacco and blackcurrants as well as cedar and dark chocolate. Aromatic. Medium-bodied with an intense center palate of blackcurrant, orange peel and peaches. Nervy. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegte schwarze Waldbeerfrucht, Lakritze, Brombeeren, Mandarinenzesten, ein Hauch von Edelholz. Straff, engmaschig, reife Kirschen, lebendiger Säurebogen, finessenreich und lange anhaltend, schokoladiger Touch ohne jede Opulenz, verfügt über Länge und Zukunft, kann aber sicher recht früh angetrunken werden."

WEINWISSER: "Delikates Bouquet, frischer Schattenmorellensaft, zartes Veilchenparfüm, erkalteter Hagebuttentee und heller Tabak. Am straff ausgerichteten, komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, perfekt stützender Rasse, edlem mineralischen Kern und trainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten, langanhaltenden Finale pure rote Kirschfrucht, Estragon, dunkle Mineralik und erhabene Adstringenz. 2029 – 2048."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The second wine of Lafite checks in as 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. This smoking good second wine has more than a little Lafite character and offers ample red and black fruits, notes of tobacco, graphite, and leafy herbs, medium to full-bodied richness, silky, polished tannins, and a great finish. As with the Grand Vin, it's concentrated, powerful, and flawlessly balanced."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Once past all its florality, the wine moves to its red, and black fruit side. With a racy, freshness, the palate offers sweet, ripe, berries, lift, energy, purity and elegance. The finish is where its racy edge shines most with all of its layers of black currants, black plums, spice and flowers. The wine is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 13.7% ABV, 3.7 pH. The wine consists of roughly 35% of the harvest. Drink from 2026-2042."

DECANTER: "Plums, blackcurrants, dark chocolate and perfumed aromas on the nose. Smooth and bright, silky, sharp, intense but so likeable, a shot of high acidity really sets the tone, this is zinging with energy, bite and power. It's a look at me wine with a strawberry and red cherry sweetness as well as herbal savouriness that hits the mid palate creating a mouthwatering juiciness and sense of structure. The power comes in after a few minutes, alongside minerality and wet stone touches to the fine but present tannins. Streamlined, focussed and confident. Cleverly constructed with lots to like, will age well and has lovely Pauillac touches. 64IPT. 3.75pH. Harvest 31 August to 24 September. 16% press. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with hints of cedar box, loamy soil, warm spices, violets and orange zest introduce the 2022 Carruades de Lafite, a medium to full-bodied, bright and velvety blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: „The 2022 Carruades de Lafite is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a swirl or two to reveal evocative notes of blackcurrant jelly, black raspberries, and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of iris bulb, tilled soil, and crushed cloves. The medium-bodied palate is typically elegant, minerally, and refreshing, with firm, fine-grained tannins to provide support, and a long, lifted finish."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Relatively complex nose with dark fruit and spice prominent. Energy and tension on the palate so freshness. Zesty for the year. Comfortable tannic structure. Should be intriguing as it opens."