Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2002

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

This is an excellent wine for the vintage. There is a sense of control on the nose with blackberry, cedar and pencil lead on the nose with wonderful delineation. The palate is very refined and elegant upon first acquaintance but then you notice the firmness and symmetry of the tannic structure, accompanied by considerable unresolved new oak. This Lafite has certainly “firmed up” over the last 4-5 years, but the finish is very well balanced and natural, quintessentially Pauillac with tobacco on the aftertaste. Great potential, but you need to wait another decade. Drink 2014-2035. Tasted November 2006.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A very inky dark black colour. The nose seems to suddenly wake up – great definition and vibrancy, blackberries, raspberry, graphite, a touch of mulberry and underbrush. The palate is medium-bodied, very supple with fine tannins, quite sensuous in the middle, blackberries, raspberry, boysenberry and a touch of fresh fig. There is a lovely crescendo on the finish, a controlled opulence with a smooth texture, though underneath there is a firm structure. Great harmony and focus and the tobacco-infused aftertaste is quite outstanding in its persistency. Drink 2015-2035. Tasted September 2008.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

As I have indicated in the past, under the administration of Charles Chevalier, Lafite-Rothschild has produced a tremendous succession of historic, possibly monumental wines since 1995. The 2002 will only add to Chevalier’s illustrious resume. Forty-seven percent of the crop made it into the grand vin, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.5% Merlot, and 3.5% Cabernet Franc. It smells and tastes like liqueur of lead pencil intermixed with cassis and cherry jam. Opaque purple to the rim, relatively light on its feet, but super-concentrated and intense, it is reminiscent of a lighter-weight 1996, a wine that merited a perfect score. More forward than the 1996, the 2002 is extraordinarily concentrated, riveting juice that has impeccable harmony. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2038

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A very backward nose, less expression than Latour and Mouton at this stage. But the palate has Lafite`s typical elegance and grace with a velvety texture and succulent black cherry/pencil- lead notes. Probably better than the 1999, this is a more feminine version of Mouton. Tasted April 2003.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at Farr’s 2002 Bordeaux tasting. Very deep colour. The nose is complex and intense with aromas of blackberry, pencil-lead, black olive, sous-bois and cedar. Very Pauillac and it just builds and builds in the glass. The palate displays a seductive entry, supple texture, very smooth and silky with blackberry, boysenberry and something quite sweet, dates or fig. Then towards the finish, it draws back and becomes more tannic and masculine, as if it say: “that’s enough”. An intriguing wine, quite mercurial in the glass. Tasted October 2009.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

A brilliant offering and a candidate for wine of the vintage, this is classic Lafite that reminded me somewhat of the 1976, although the vintage conditions were completely different. This is a medium-weight, quintessentially elegant style of Lafite with notes of lead pencil shavings/graphite along with black currants, plums, and crushed rocks/mineral. Wonderfully pure, dense, with a deep ruby/purple color and loads of fruit, definition, and a long finish, this is a brilliant, elegant Lafite Rothschild that builds incrementally in the mouth and has more power and density than it initially seems. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.

vinous91

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2002 Lafite-Rothschild is surprisingly dark in colour. It also has a surprisingly concentrated bouquet with blackberry, sous-bois and brine. Hints of steaming cups of espresso percolate through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a little chewiness on the entry. Quite briny and saline, a little rustic in terms of tannic profile and perhaps only on the finish does the limitations of the growing season show. Tasted at the château.

vinous92

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Bright, dark ruby-red. Subdued but pure aromas of currant, plum, minerals, graphite, and sexy, coconutty oak; showed a floral note with aeration. Extremely suave, fine-grained and concentrated, with a strong spine of acidity. Finishes firmly tannic, subtle and very long. This should develop slowly.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

(87% cabernet sauvignon, 9.5% merlot and 3.5% cabernet franc) Bright medium ruby. Brooding, precise, perfumed aromas of raw cassis, blueberry, bitter cherry, violet, cedar, bitter chocolate and camphor. Pure, austere and penetrating; almost painfully intense today and closed in on itself, with its acids and tannins currently in opposition. Shows a slight bitter streak, as young Lafite often does in firm vintages. But the very long, slow-mounting finish and superb clarity of flavor suggest that this will be an excellent Lafite, in a distinctly uncompromising style.