Wine Advisor
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2011
View analysis
Description
Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. It is considered by some to be the best wine to come out of Bordeaux. In 1815, Guillaume Lawton said of Château Lafite, “I consider it to be the the most elegant and delicate, with the finest substance of the three (Premier Crus). The location of its vines is one of the finest in the Médoc”. In 1855 the Château was ranked as a Premier Grand Cru in the famous classification that was prepared for the Universal Exhibition of that year. Lafite is also known as the ‘King’s wine’, after being introduced to the Court at Versailles by Maréchal Richelieu.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 Lafite-Rothschild is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot with an alcohol level of 12.6%. It has wonderful purity on the nose with blackberry, cassis, raspberry, a touch of graphite and an attractive floral note. It is feminine and beguiling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins on the entry, crisp acidity, very harmonious and alluring with blackberry, raspberry and a saline touch towards the long caressing finish. It is a more sensual Lafite that I was expecting, with great persistency and poise. Tasted April 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot (harvested between September 3-21), the 2011 Lafite Rothschild came in at 12.6% natural alcohol (considerably lower than in 2010 and 2009). Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple color, lots of crushed rock, red and black currant, forest floor and underbrush characteristics, moderate tannin and medium body, it is built somewhat along the lines of the 1999 and 2001. It should be a 20- to 25-year wine, but it is not at the level of the 2008, 2009 and 2010. Fresh acids give the wine a somewhat more clipped feeling than most great Lafites have exhibited. Nevertheless, there is a lot of freshness and vibrancy to this vintage.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
Good full ruby-purple; this really stains the glass. Highly expressive aromas of blackberry, crushed strawberry, flint, cedar, pepper and herbs. Rich and bright in the mouth, with pungent minerality and a cedary note keeping the dark and red fruit flavors fresh. The long finish features lovely floral lift and substantial but ripe tannins. This strikes me as a very successful Lafite.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
(80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot): Good dark red. Very closed nose hints at blackcurrant, licorice, mocha, graphite and spices. Slightly hard-edged in the mouth, with a peppery element to the dark fruit, mineral and spice flavors. Finishes a tad pinched, with palate-saturating tannins verging on dry. This will obviously need time in bottle to smooth out, but I fear that the tannins will always maintain at least a light green streak. Of course I hope I'm wrong, but this doesn't strike me as one of the most successful Lafites of the last ten years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 Lafite-Rothschild was impressive from barrel. It is very composed on the nose with brambly red fruit, loam, touches of sous-bois (decayed autumn leaves). After five minutes, there is a noticeable liquorice scent. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins, a little soft in the middle with a fleshy tarry, liquorice-infused finish that just tapers away. Elegant, refined, but not the First Growth's strongest effort from this period. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.
1903(1)1907(1)1911(1)1913(1)1945(1)1947(1)1948(1)1949(1)1950(1)1953(1)1954(1)1959(1)1960(1)1961(2)1962(1)1963(1)1964(2)1965(1)1966(1)1967(1)1969(2)1970(4)1971(1)1972(1)1973(2)1974(1)1975(5)1977(1)1978(5)1979(4)1980(2)1981(3)1982(9)1983(8)1984(1)1985(8)1986(15)1987(1)1988(5)1989(14)1990(11)1991(3)1992(3)1993(4)1994(8)1995(15)1996(16)1997(4)1998(17)1999(7)2000(17)2001(9)2002(14)2003(10)2004(11)2005(25)2006(16)2007(11)2008(31)2009(21)2010(15)
Package Size
