PV Tasting Notes
98 Points James Suckling The Wine Spectator March 2008
Delivers blackberry, dried porcini, tobacco and licorice aromas. Full-bodied, with layers of velvety tannins and loads of dark chocolate, cigar box, currant, berry and mineral. The finish is long, with a coffee, almost meaty, aftertaste. Very beautiful and balanced. Best after 2013. –JS
Independent Review96+ Points Robert Parker The Wine Advocate April 2008
While the 2005 is another brilliantly classic Lafite Rothschild, for my taste, it comes in slightly behind their extraordinarily opulent 2003 as well as the dramatically powerful 2000. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot, the 2005 boasts a dark ruby/purple color in addition to that exceptional Lafite perfume of graphite, spring flowers, crushed rocks, and sweet black cherry and black currant fruit that exudes class and nobility. The wine is medium-bodied with extremely high levels of tannin in addition to sensational purity, length, and overall harmony. However, it is exceptionally backward, and even more tannic than either the 1995 or 1996. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050+
The name Lafite is thought to have come from the old Gascon language term “la hite”, which means “hillock”, although it was owned in 1234 by Gombard de Lafite. The estate is situated at the northern end of Appellation Pauillac and is close to Chateau Cos D’Estournel which sits on the other side of the road and “border” of Saint Estephe. The vineyards consist of three major areas, the hillsides around the Chateau itself, the adjacent Carruades plateau on the west and 4.5 hectares actually located in St Estephe but is entitled to be classified as Pauillac. Purchased at auction by Baron James de Rothschild in 1868 for a staggering amount at the time, it was said the bidding was so high, only a Rothschild could afford it, by coincidence the Rothschilds bank in Paris was on rue de Laffitte. Early bottles of this wine can be found to have two f’s or two t’s.
The well, drained soils are deep fine gravel up to 4 meters deep mixed with Aeolian sands on a bedrock of tertiary limestone. The 107 acres of vines are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet Franc 3% and Petite Verdot 2%. The average age of the vines remains around 35 years, although vines below 10 years of age are not used in the grand vin, 18 hectares of vines are above 50 years of age and the oldest plot called “La Graviere” is more that 120 years old, actually the plot was planted in 1886. Normally the final blend of the Grand Vin is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, (between 80% and 95% depending on vintage) however it all depends on conditions and house decisions, sometimes which can go badly wrong, e.g. the appallingly poor 1961 was made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The estates team is now is now overseen by Technical Director Charles Chevallier and the talented winemaking father and son team is Jacques and Eric Boissenot, who believe in minimal intervention and virtually no fertilizers being used. Yields are kept low (for Bordeaux) and harvesting is done by hand by some 350 pickers and normally over about 10-15 days, grapes are then sorted in the vineyard before being brought to two reception bays where the different plots are vinified separately.
Lafite is renowned for its finesse and subtlety, often considered as being more accessible than Chateau Latour of Mouton Rothschild and has recently become the most fashionable of all wine due to China devouring every drop if can find.