2020 Lafite Rothschild
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Tasting notes
This is a beautifully composed Lafite with an overriding sense of freshness both in its fruit clarity and succulent, mouth-watering tannins. The distinct graphite aromas are interspersed with fresh blackcurrant fruit on the elegant, medium-bodied, Cabernet-driven palate. But it is the tannin structure that is so impressive: the tannins are quintessential Lafite in their detail and ethereal finesse, creating effortless depth and textural richness to the wine on a long, sustained finish. It is exceptionally balanced.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Dark greyish crimson. Fragrant and refined. A whisper of oak and lovely dark fruit. Juicy, fresh, surprisingly approachable with lots of freshness and refinement in the texture. Sour-fresh finish, real freshness for 2020. Juicy, harmonious, long. (JH)
The 2020 Lafite-Rothschild is a wine that I completely misread in the glass. It has a very well-defined bouquet—mainly red fruit, mulberry, warm gravel and subtle floral scents. Very comely. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple entry, again, red fruit at the fore, with notes of white pepper and a touch of bay leaf. There is a lot of structure here, and I'm just missing the "juiciness" that I observed after bottling, suggesting this has gone into its shell. I will seek to re-taste another time. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Amazing aromas here with tobacco, crushed stone, cigar box, currants, tar, and lead pencil, as well as spices, iron, and dried ginger. Medium- to full-bodied, with a density and tightness. Very compact and complex. Racy. Delicacy with strength. Orange peel undertones. A wine to contemplate. You must understand it to understand the great Lafites of the past and those of the future. Only 12.8% alcohol. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Best after 2030, but drink it if you have the chance taste it.
About the producer
Ch. Lafite Rothschild is one of the most famous wine estates in Bordeaux and the world. One of the Left Bank’s five First Growths, the Pauillac property is renowned for producing wines of finesse and elegance that age beautifully.