2016 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac 1x600cl

Chateau Lafite Rothschild

Case Format: 600cl

Max score: 99

Drink To: 2026-2070

The most famous wine of the Bordeaux region, Château Lafite Rothschild definitely lives up to its hype. Located in Pauillac, the estate exists at the north of the appellation separated by marshland from the neighbouring Saint-Estèphe. Its grand vin is cultivated on a gravel plateau, which sees the vineyard planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (c.92%), Merlot (c.7%) and Petit Verdot (c.1%). At 107 acres the vineyard is one of the largest in the Médoc. Dating back to 1234 Lafite Rothschild has a long history and has been under the ownership of the Rothschild family for over 200 years. Its respect for and cultivation of its terroir has continued for centuries, culminating in the creation of its ground-breaking wines. Lafite Rothschild produces an elegant style of Pauillac that is brimming with flavour. Expect warm notes of cedar, truffle and tobacco, the lip-smacking tartness of cassis, and the vibrancy of juicy red fruits.

Average Annual Production: 20,000 to 30,000 Cases

Grape varieties:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon 50-70%
  • Merlot 30-50%
  • Cabernet Franc 0-5%
Learn more about Château Lafite Rothschild here

£6,395.00 IN BOND

Available for Immediate Delivery

CRITIC REVIEWS

98
Neal Martin

The 2016 Lafite-Rothschild underwent three days of pre-harvest selection to pick out the clusters that you could see through, where the grapes had little pulp because of retarded maturation during the growing season. This tank represented 3% of the volume that did not even make it into the Carruades because it would have detracted from the precision. It has a beautiful bouquet, one of the most seductive in recent years, offering pure blackberry and boysenberry fruit, hints of pressed violet and India ink that emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite saturated tannin that belies the backbone, and a rondeur that I was not anticipating. Referring back to my notes, it s clear that this first growth has developed greater amplitude and perhaps sensuality in barrel. It has a sense of approachability, although it clearly has the substance to last for many years.

99
Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2016 Lafite Rothschild is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, with 15% of the press wine contributing to the blend this year. Deep purple-black in color, it slowly reveals the most gorgeous perfume of kirsch, lilacs, black raspberries and warm blackcurrants with underlying nuances of cigar box, rose hip tea, cloves, licorice and pencil lead plus a waft of garrigue. Medium-bodied and built like a brick house with a firm yet beautifully ripe, finely pixelated tannic backbone and seamless freshness supporting the amazing intensity of black fruits and floral layers, it finishes very long and provocatively perfumed.

18.5
JancisRobinson.com

Tasted blind. First bottle: Big, burly, mulberry nose. Then a little tart on the end. Big and bold. More concentrated than the Second bottle: Similar rather glorious but possibly OTT nose and then polished tannins and less tart on the end. Very voluptuous. I m sure no one else in the world would demand a second bottle of this; it s just that the Southwold crew are subjecting all these 2016s to such scrutiny. Slightly salty.

DELIVERY INFORMATION

Please note the price indicated by Duty Paid shows the cost of the wine with the applicable taxes (Duty & VAT) added.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

COUNTRY

France

REGION

Bordeaux

SUB REGION

Medoc

VINTAGE

2016

COLOUR

Red

CASE FORMAT

1x600cl

AVAILABILITY

IMMEDIATE

MAX CRITIC SCORE

99

DRINK TO

2026-2070

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