Chateau Lafite Rothschild - Carruades de Lafite 2021

JAMES SUCKLING: "The currants, cedar and violets are very bright on the nose, with sandalwood undertones and pencil shavings. This is medium-bodied, beautiful and firm, with finesse and real Lafite character for their second wine. Racy at the end. Drinkable now but even better in three or four years."

WEINWISSER: "Dunkle, dichte Farbe. Mit superfeiner Cassis-Frucht und satter Fülle im Hintergrund erzeugt der Carruades 2021 eine beeindruckend generöse, verdichtete Nase. Samtig, konzentriert und klar, verfügt er über superfeine Gerbstoffe im Mund, nobel und tiefgründig, hochansprechend und komplex. Großer Lafite-Charakter mit feinkörnigen Gerbstoffen, eleganter Struktur und kleinbeeriger Aromatik. Extrem gut balanciert, ist es offenkundig, dass dieser Zweitwein schon bald trinkreif und sehr delikat sein wird."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Cherries and ripe black-currants give this second-label wine a generous, open character. It is succulent with rich tannins and pure black-currant acidity. This is sure to age well. Drink from 2028."

DECANTER: "Ripe, dark perfumed blackcurrant and black cherries on the nose. Fragrant but also herbal, liquorice, clove, tobacco and toast. Supple and juicy on the palate, a lovely sense of life and energy to this straight away. Gorgeous texture, full and expansive in the mouth with gently plush and crushed velveted tannins. Feels like a serious wine with a great fresh backbone of lively acidity, ripe fruit and structured tannins. I love the high acidity and sense of explosion you get here. Raspberry, red cherry and blackcurrant - so red and black fruits with tinges and hints of liquorice, cola and mint around the edges. Really nuanced but very approachable. Fun with clarity and precision. Such a clear palate. A lively baby brother."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Kräuterwürze, dunkle Waldbeeren, frische Herzkirschen, tabakige Nuancen, kandierte Orangenzesten. Mittlerer Körper, zarte Süße, frisch strukturiert, mineralisch, ein leichtfüßiger, eleganter Speisenwein mit salzigem Finale, hat im letzten Jahr an Statur gewonnen, vielversprechendes weiteres Potenzial."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, 2021 Carruades de Lafite is deep garnet-purple in color. It pops from the glass with energetic notes of black raspberries, redcurrant preserves, and juicy blackberries, giving way to touches of wild sage, iron ore, and mossy tree bark. The light-bodied palate is still very tightly wound, with great tension and vivacious red and black berry flavors, finishing with an herbal lift."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is mostly composed of the younger replacement vines dotted throughout Lafite's vineyards on the plateau, which are harvested separately. Offering up aromas of red berries, cassis, cedar box and orange rind, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and layered, with good concentration and a long, penetrating finish. It's a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, part of which was matured in wooden vats rather than barriques."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2021 Carruades De Lafite is beautiful, with some classic Lafite elegance in its medium-bodied aromas and flavors of red fruits, leather, dried flowers, and spicy wood. It has ultra-fine tannins, a soft, supple mouthfeel, and outstanding length. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc."