Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2005

WEINWISSER: "Leuchtendes Granat mit schöner, satter Tiefe, noch lila Reflexe am Rand. Royales Bouquet, delikat, vielschichtig, hochreifer, parfümierter Cabernet, Cassisnoten, Heidelbeeren, blühender Brombeerstrauch, ein Hauch Vanillin und Karamell füllt das Nasenbild an. Im Gaumen eine zarte Versuchung, wahrhaft seidige Tannine, Finessen, gebündeltes Finale. Selten habe ich von einem viel zu jungen Bordeaux einen derartigreuelosen grossen Schluck genommen. Bewegendes Jugendsünde-Erlebnis!"

DECANTER: "A wine worthy of superlatives, the 2005 Lafite showed incredible concentration yet a superb balance. The lovely blackcurrant and plum fruit shows a fragrant floral edge, hints of oak spice, and a firm, earthy underpinning. The texture is superbly elegant, with a lovely freshness and a lilting, silky finish, yet it does not lack a tannic grip, and the finish is satisfyingly long. Near perfection. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot with just a drop of Petit Verdot, aged in new casks."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This wine is initially dense, almost thick enough to be cut with a knife. But then it becomes apparent that this is beautifully integrated and balanced, bringing together power, with the hallmark Lafite style and poise. In the end, you have a wine that promises an impressive aging potential along with delicious black currant fruits, acidity and a layer of striking tannins. Imported by Domaines Barons de Rothschild and multiple U.S. importers."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. In der Nase etwas verhaltene Röstaromen, zart nach Zwetschgenröster, einladendes Beerenkonfit, Orangenzesten, feine tabakige Nuancen, rauchige, zedrige Würze. Am Gaumen dunkle Beerenfrucht, Kirschen, präsente Tannine, die gut eingebunden, zugleich aber auch noch fordernd sind, im Moment etwas verschlossen, süße Röstaromen, angenehme Frische, Zukunftspotenzial, großer, vielschichtiger Wein."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Youthful, classically styled, full-bodied, fresh, bright, crisp, chewy, and tannic, the red fruits offer purity, vibrance, and length, along with lead pencil, flowers, spice, cigar box, thyme, and oceanic characteristics. Still in its infancy, the wine needs time to soften, open, and expand, so if you are lucky enough to have a bottle, patience is a virtue here. Drink from 2030-2065."

WINE SPECTATOR: "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."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2005 Château Lafite-Rothschild is a beauty, and it has that quintessential power paired with incredible elegance and complexity that this Château does so well. Based on 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot, it has perfumed notes of red and black fruits, freshly sharpened pencils, saddle leather, graphite, and spice. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied 2005 that has a layered, balanced mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It stays relatively focused and tight on the palate, and benefits from air. Drink bottles any time over the coming 20-30 years."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Having tasted the 2005 Château Lafite-Rothschild several times both blind and non-blind, it comes across as a First Growth politely requesting more time to "settle". Here, from an ex-château bottle tasted in Bordeaux, it delivers that graphite, pencil-box bouquet that unfurls gradually in the glass, biding its time, graceful but not intense. Parallel to some of its fellow 2005s, it is developing a little more spice, namely thyme and sage, than I recall. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, to wit, a sophisticated Pauillac that priorities elegance and poise over intensity of fruit—in keeping with Lafite Rothschild's style. You come away with the sense that it will take its time and decline, giving away a great deal in its primacy, even if it is still more approachable than the 2005 Latour for example. Therefore, I would be inclined to set this aside for several more years. Tasted November 2014."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2005 Lafite is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it slips sensuously from the glass with eager-to-please scents of creme de cassis, Christmas cake, and cedar chest, giving way to hints of Indian spices, sweaty leather, and pencil shavings. The mineral-laced, medium-bodied palate is elegant and shimmery, delivering firm tannins and a soft-spoken finish. Delivering a mature, wonderfully evocative experience now, it is well within its drinking window and should cellar to 2045+. At this time the estate was managed by Baron Eric de Rothschild and Charles Chevallier was technical director."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Lovely deep purple colour in the glass with lifted violet and leafy black fruit on the nose. On the palate there was a cool, menthol edge with slightly subdued fruit and a surprising amount of oak evident. Perhaps not the best bottle? Fine texture on the palate with ripe, polished tannins, plenty of acidity and a racy feel on the finish. Still seems a young wine which will repay further ageing – I suspect this was a bottle in less-than-perfect condition (I scored a bottle tasted in 2009 a slightly higher 18.5/20), but expensive to find out at £750 a time."