Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 2018 Lafite Rothschild is blended of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot, and 0.5% Petit Verdot and has 13.3% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock intoxicating scents of blackcurrant cordial, baked plums, and black cherry compote with an undercurrent of dark chocolate, licorice, cast-iron pan, cedar chest, and fertile loam, plus a waft of pencil lead. The delicately crafted, medium-bodied palate is dripping with class, featuring layers of mineral-laced black fruits and exquisitely ripe, singularly Lafite tannins, finishing with epic length and depth. This simply stunning, delicately crafted expression of 2018 with its singularly evocative imprint of Lafite will require a good 7-8 years in bottle, then should continue to inspire awe over the following 40+ years. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

An immensely structured wine, this is complex, concentrated, and yet so contained. The wine impresses with its balance, layers of succulent black-currant fruits, and effortless style. A wine for the long term, it should not be touched before 2029. - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

Wow. The aromas are intense and refined at the same time, offering gorgeous blackcurrant, lead-pencil, and orchid character. Such purity of fruit. Sleek and finely polished with a fine cut to the tannins that provide such grace and glamor. Yet, it’s got the power and structure to age for decades. On and on. Try after 2029. - James Suckling

Checking in as a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2018 Château Lafite-Rothschild is one of those magical Lafites that offers an already up-front, complex, nuanced style yet has the class and balance to evolve for 40-50 years. As always, this wine is never about sheer power, and 2018 offers a full-bodied, incredibly elegant, and weightless style that carries textbook blackcurrant fruits, lead pencil shavings, green tobacco, cedarwood, and camphor aromas and flavors. I compared this wine to a more elegant version of the 2016 from the barrel and I think that comparison still holds. Incredibly up-front and charming, and already drinkable with sweet tannins, it will unquestionably pick up more complexity and nuance over the coming 4-6 years. It should hit maturity around age 10 and evolve for 75 years or more given its perfect balance. This is a beautiful, quintessential Lafite that exudes elegance and charm. - Jeb Dunnuck

The Wine Independent - 100 points (out of 100) La Revue du Vin du France - 20 out of 20 points (perfect score) Wine Advocate - 100 points (out of 100) The Wine Enthusiast - 100 points (out of 100)