Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2012

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Showing the serious side of Lafite, this is big and dark, powered by tannins as much as fruit. The wood aging is still showing, although that will integrate into the great structure that holds up the ripe black currant fruits. Totally dominated by some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux, this wine has strength while also having great freshness. Drink from 2024."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Superb structure for the vintage with blackcurrants, cedar, mushroom and sweet tobacco character. Full-bodied yet reserved and tight with an impressive density. Long finish."

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Zart animalisches Bukett, ein Hauch von schwarzen Kirschen, Nuancen von Brombeeren, kandierte Veilchen. Saftig, mittlere Komplexität, gut integrierte Tannine, wirkt im Kern eher schlank, finessenreich strukturiert, rotbeerig, bereits zugänglich, bietet großen Trinkcharme."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2012 Lafite Rothschild is medium to deep garnet colored. It struts its stuff with very spicy, exotic notes and wafts of incense over a core of creme de cassis, stewed plums, and fruitcake, plus a licorice and tar undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate delivered bags of perfumed black fruits with a velvety texture and bags of freshness, finishing long and fragrant."

WEINWISSER: "91 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 8,5 % Merlot, 0,5 % Petit Verdot. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Sehr reserviert zu Beginn, zeigt somit sicherlich seine würzige Tiefe an, Teer, Trüffel, Schwarztee, Brombeerstauden und Szechuanpfeffer, aber wie gesagt: Alles befindet sich im Untergrund. Im Gaumen blau- bis schwarzbeerig, die Tannine sind mürbe, in sich gekehrt und vermitteln eine schon fast barocke Adstringenz. Wo ist die Frucht? Vermutungsweise wohl im Innern des sehr kompakt daherkommenden Körpers. Irgendwie erinnert er mich an meine allererste Fassprobe eines Lafites. Das war damals der 1985er. Er wird wohl sicherlich mindestens ebenso gut sein oder eher darüber liegen. Auf alle Fälle braucht es eine ziemliche Portion Wahrsagerei, um diesen halbstummen, wenig kommunikativen Primeur-Lafite richtig einzuschätzen. Also momentan mit reservierter Wertung. Das war mein 84. Lafite-Jahrgangskontakt von 1865 bis 2012. P.S.: Wir kamen von Latour zu Lafite und fuhren dann gleich zu Mouton. Ich hatte also noch den Lafite auf der Zunge. Der Gaumen wurde immer süsser und der Nachklang blieb minutenlang im Mund. Also ein sehr gutes Zeichen!"

DECANTER: "With 91% Cabernet Sauvignon this still has a strong tannin backbone, balanced by an elegant fragrance that is Lafite’s hallmark. Bottles have varied, however, so it loses a point."

WINE SPECTATOR: " This has a dark, smoky edge from the start, with smoldering tobacco and grilled savory notes lining the core of steeped plum, macerated black currant and lightly mulled cherry fruit. Shows a loamy, smoky edge to the finish, with the tobacco hint peeking out. Features admirable range, depth and grip, with just a twinge of the vintage's austerity lurking. Best from 2018 through 2030. 16,000 cases made."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Light in body, better on the nose with its tobacco, cedar, leaf and herbal profile than on its almost rustic, light palate, the wine ends with a strong, green olive and tobacco leaf finish."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Healthy, glowing crimson. Neat and contained without any flashiness. Classic top claret. But not the sort of wine that would knock the socks off a neophyte."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2012 Lafite Rothschild, representing only 38% of their total production, is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance mostly Merlot. It is a very stylish, elegant, yet concentrated Lafite Rothschild with an opaque ruby/purple color, soft well-integrated tannins, nice integrated oak, acidity and alcohol. Lafites’s 2012 reveals good, opaque, ruby/purple color and plenty of lead pencil and blackcurrant fruit. The wine is medium-bodied and should hit its prime 2020-2035."