Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 2022 - 1er Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The supreme Cru of Pauillac, Lafite owes its unrivalled finesse to the gravelly soil in the north of the appellation, on a limestone bedrock, with extremely rigorous selections that leave out more than half the harvest. Strongly marked by Cabernet Sauvignon, which often accounts for more than 90% of the blend, Lafite shines with notes of cedar and graphite that require more than fifteen years to blossom. The new team in charge of the estate (the duo Saskia de Rothschild and Éric Kohler) is committed to giving greater dimension to the wines, both grand vin and second.

Decanter

About the wine:

Deep, dark and discreet, it offers fresh black fruit aromas with hints of cocoa and sea-spray minerality. Balanced and fragrant, it glides across the palate with Lafite's characteristic elegance. The tannins delicately frame the red fruit and ensure perfect balance. Subtle yet imposing, with layers of refinement, depth and completeness, and a mentholated, stony, crystalline purity. A masterpiece of sobriety and precision. I love this wine. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. Organic. 2029-2050

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

94% Cabernet-Sauvignon in this anthological 2022, which draws strength from the vintage, but is coated here with a fleshiness that's both soft and luscious. Let's go back over the thread. The color is dense and the nose slow to awaken: hints of roasted coffee, sandalwood, oriental spices, another of peony, then fruit (blackcurrant, plum), both ripe and fresh. The great mellowness of the attack gives comfort to a palate that gains in tension under the effect of unctuous tannins, very powdery, tight, but without any astringency. The finish, very sapid, smells of grape must and releases that touch of graphite that often marks the vintage as it evolves. A truly beautiful journey. 2032-2050

About the domain :

A former seigneury whose jurisdiction extended to the north of Pauillac, the estate owes its château to the Ségurs, Bordeaux parliamentarians and major vineyard owners, as well as a viticultural vocation established as early as the 17th century, which led to its elevation to the rank of 1ercru classé in 1855. But it owes much to the Rothschilds, who acquired it in 1868, that it has been protected from the divisions and transfers that have weakened so many prestigious estates. It also owes its modernization and high-performance tools, such as the famous circular cellar designed by Ricardo Bofill, to the team formed by Éric de Rothschild, at the helm since 1974, and Charles Chevallier, its technical director until 2016. These tools enable us to fully reveal the personality of an exceptional terroir planted with 112 ha of vines: a superb ridge of fine, deep gravel on a limestone subsoil. Éric Kohler took over as technical director of Lafite in 2016, while Charles Chevallier remains consultant and ambassador of the château.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

In bottle, Lafite Rothschild 2022 proved even better than expected. Overflowing with aromas of sweet red fruits, minty cassis, violets and cigar box. It's medium-bodied, velvety and suave, with a deep, enveloping core of bright fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Even at this early stage, it's remarkably integrated and harmonious, and certainly the most elegant of the year's Premiers Crus, reminding me of a modern-day version of the magical Lafite 1953. 2030-2065

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Lafite is the most refined of Médoc wines when, after a few years' ageing, it reveals its bewitching aromas of graphite and pencil lead. Tasting it is like discovering a unique touch and sap. A vast estate of 178 hectares, 105 of which are planted with vines, Lafite has belonged to the Rothschild family since 1868. The château also boasts one of the world's richest heritages of (very) old vintages, which shows just how consistent the estate has been (with the exception of a few vintages). Saskia, daughter of Éric de Rothschild, took over as head of the group's properties in 2018, while Éric Kholer has overseen vinification since 2016. Of particular note in recent vintages is the progress made by the second wine, Les Carruades.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A modern Lafite benchmark that reveals aromas of tobacco, orange peel, cedar, pencil shavings, violets and cigar box - so fragrant. The palate is medium-bodied, with lots of graphite, stone and redcurrant notes. It lingers for several minutes. It reminds me of the Lafites I loved so much decades ago. It could be the great 1986 vintage. A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Best after 2030, but already fascinating.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

On the nose, a bewitching fragrance that fills the mind with an immersive sweetness, like a hedonistic form of pranayama. From the very first sip, the wine unfurls on the palate with striking fullness, invading the entire body. Powerful yet delicate, it oscillates between caressing softness and salivating freshness. Slow waves of fruit, sap, salt and incense stretch out majestically. Each tiny nuance blends into a harmonious whole, gliding over the tongue with infinite languor. 2032-2065

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The freshness that Carruades had predicted is not only enhanced by Lafite, but literally energized, with stunning clarity, uncompromising precision. The bouquet even reveals implausible candied nuances to create an exceptional symbiosis. The depth suggested by the bouquet is perfectly assimilated by the palate. The wine positions itself with finesse and serenity from the outset. Aware of its vigor, the wine begins by displaying some tannins that underline their power, without this power being invasive, although we almost tip over to the side of the dark force! In the end, it's reason, finesse, detail and precision that take the lead and give birth to a great Lafite Rothschild. It has always revealed itself slowly, which is nothing new, but it does so in a relaxed, confident and persuasive manner. The dry tannin extracts provide the ideal backdrop; they are structuring, refreshing and go hand in hand with the temperament of a well-honed acid structure, even if there's not much of it after all. A fine, subtle austerity makes the palate salivate and stretches the persistence of the finish. A wine of exceptional quality. 2029-2057

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

Lovely, elegant nose, airy, deep, intense, all mastery / precision and nicely racy. The wine deserves to be decanted. Superb delicacy and finesse in its intensity. Notes of boysenberry, bright blackcurrant and, more lightly, blueberry are combined with hints of lilac. The palate is beautifully conducted, supple, fresh, airy, melodious, bewitching, deep, delicate, radiant and beautifully textured. A bewitching, "come and get me" quality. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/fresh blackcurrant, bright/fresh cherry and, more lightly, bright red berries, combined with touches of racy minerality, juicy/fresh violet plum, bright/juicy red berries and discreet hints of chocolate. The tannins are mellow, greedy and elegant. Good length and superb persistence. Super bright. Superb airy character in its richness and power.