Lafite Rothschild 2015

Pauillac, First Growth

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Tasting Notes
The 2015 Lafite-Rothschild, bottled in May 2017, is refined and pure on the bouquet with scents of blackberry and bilberry, touches of violet and as usual, from a slightly subdued beginning it opens magnificently with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, with edgier tannin than many Lafite-Rothschilds I tasted a decade ago, wonderfully balanced with that sense of "vibrancy" that I remarked upon previously. The 2015 is only on the opening page of a long story, but I suspect that it will evolve into a splendid Lafite-Rothschild. Tasted in Bordeaux at a private tasting. Score: 95 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2060 01 July 2018
The 2015 Lafite Rothschild, which was bottled in May 2017, has a very refined bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, hints of cassis and violets, all beautifully defined. It is initially quite understated but blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly chalky tannin. The acidity here is perfectly pitched, lending tension and that sense of vibrancy that winemaker Eric Kohler talks about. It just seems to flow nicely along before fanning out toward the precise finish although I still believe that its proximity to Saint-Estèphe that suffered more pre-harvest rain possibly shaved off a little of what could have been. Nevertheless, this is a Lafite that seems to run like clockwork and it will surely give immense pleasure over the next 20 or 30 years. Score: 95 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2022-2050 01 March 2018
The 2015 Lafite-Rothschild is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot picked between 17 September and 6 October. Matured in 100% new oak, it has a tightly-wound bouquet with black cherries, cassis, cedar and graphite, though it does not quite possess the depth one would have expected the vintage would have bestowed. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, harmonious on the entry and with the oak neatly integrated. There is a very fine grip towards the finish, which has a tangible spicy edge - white pepper with a touch of bay leaf and enough pencil lead to fill a stationery set. The aftertaste is extremely long here, more than a minute when I timed it on my watch. It is an excellent Lafite-Rothschild in the making and it often "finds its voice" only after bottling, so it could ultimately end with a higher score. Score: 94 - 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2028-2060 01 April 2016
The deep garnet-purple shaded 2015 Lafite Rothschild is blended of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot and was matured for 20 months in new oak barrels from Tonnellerie des Domaines (their own cooperage). It is still sporting a lot of cedar at this nascent stage with a vibrant core of black raspberries, red currants and crushed plums plus touches of cigar boxes, violets and underbrush with a waft of tilled loam. Medium-bodied and elegantly styled with wonderful freshness and depth, it is compellingly earthy/minerally in the mouth with a frame of seductively silky yet very firm tannins and culminating in a very long, racy and pure finish. Boasting spectacular finesse and packed with nuances, clearly, given some of the challenges here in 2015, this is a masterpiece of diligence in the vineyards, careful selection and very clever crafting—bravo! (96+) Score: 96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2024-2045 21 February 2018
Lead and graphite are complimented by notes of blueberries and blackberries. Blackcurrants, too. Full-bodied and focused with very round and polished tannins. Elegance with power. Very classic nature for Lafite. Try in 2022. Score: 99 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 02 February 2018
Here is a Lafite with lots of muscle and tone. Very tannic and velvety textured.. Full body, fresh acidity and a bright finish. Shows a tenderness at the end. Gorgeous. Score: 97 - 98 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 01 April 2016
Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2015 Lafite-Rothschild is endowed with serious volume and textural resonance. Super-ripe plum, smoke and spice notes emerge in the glass, but only with great reluctance. Although the aromatics aren't giving much at this point, the palate is much more expressive. The wine's sheer power and authoritative tone result in an unusually dramatic Lafite. The 2015 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot that spent 20 months in oak, which is a bit more than the norm. (96+) Score: 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2055 01 February 2018
A dramatic, ample Lafite, the 2015 is also arrestingly beautiful and vivid. Expressive floral notes give the dark red and black flavors gorgeous aromatic lift. Today, the new oak is a bit pronounced, but otherwise, this is an exceptional wine. Rose petal, lavender, mint and purplish stone fruits add the last shades of detail. Score: 94 - 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2016
The grand vin 2015 Lafite-Rothschild checks in as 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot that was brought all in 100% new oak. Director Eric Kohler (who replaced Charles Chevallier in 2015) told me the vintage suffered a touch of dilution but wasn’t a complicated year. The 2015 is an aristocratic, classy example from this estate that offers textbook lead pencil shavings, tobacco, smoked herbs, and graphite as well as a beautiful core of currant and cassis fruit. It’s the most refined and subtle of the first growths, has medium to full-bodied richness, building tannin, and undeniable class and charm. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades. Score: 96 Jeb Dunnuck, - Maturity: 2023-2053 30 November 2017
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot. Deep red and black fruit with mocha and vanilla aromas with a hint of pencil shavings. In the mouth is it broad and carefully extracted with some beautifully textured creamy fruit and round tannins. A lot of smooth concentration, with a long dry finish. Score: 94 - 96 Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2016
91% Cabernet Sauvignon picked 23 September to 6 October; 9% Merlot picked 17-23 September. Lustrous mid crimson. Lightly spicy nose and very smooth tannins in the Lafite style. Only just enough acidity. Blurry impression. Mild and charming - very restrained and Lafite. It builds on the end in an impressive manner. Score: 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2040 01 April 2016

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Lafite-Rothschild, bottled in May 2017, is refined and pure on the bouquet with scents of blackberry and bilberry, touches of violet and as usual, from a slightly subdued beginning it opens magnificently with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, with edgier tannin than many Lafite-Rothschilds I tasted a decade ago, wonderfully balanced with that sense of "vibrancy" that I remarked upon previously. The 2015 is only on the opening page of a long story, but I suspect that it will evolve into a splendid Lafite-Rothschild. Tasted in Bordeaux at a private tasting.

Score: 95

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2060 01 July 2018

The 2015 Lafite Rothschild, which was bottled in May 2017, has a very refined bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, hints of cassis and violets, all beautifully defined. It is initially quite understated but blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly chalky tannin. The acidity here is perfectly pitched, lending tension and that sense of vibrancy that winemaker Eric Kohler talks about. It just seems to flow nicely along before fanning out toward the precise finish although I still believe that its proximity to Saint-Estèphe that suffered more pre-harvest rain possibly shaved off a little of what could have been. Nevertheless, this is a Lafite that seems to run like clockwork and it will surely give immense pleasure over the next 20 or 30 years.

Score: 95

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2022-2050 01 March 2018

The 2015 Lafite-Rothschild is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot picked between 17 September and 6 October. Matured in 100% new oak, it has a tightly-wound bouquet with black cherries, cassis, cedar and graphite, though it does not quite possess the depth one would have expected the vintage would have bestowed. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, harmonious on the entry and with the oak neatly integrated. There is a very fine grip towards the finish, which has a tangible spicy edge - white pepper with a touch of bay leaf and enough pencil lead to fill a stationery set. The aftertaste is extremely long here, more than a minute when I timed it on my watch. It is an excellent Lafite-Rothschild in the making and it often "finds its voice" only after bottling, so it could ultimately end with a higher score.

Score: 94 - 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2028-2060 01 April 2016

The deep garnet-purple shaded 2015 Lafite Rothschild is blended of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot and was matured for 20 months in new oak barrels from Tonnellerie des Domaines (their own cooperage). It is still sporting a lot of cedar at this nascent stage with a vibrant core of black raspberries, red currants and crushed plums plus touches of cigar boxes, violets and underbrush with a waft of tilled loam. Medium-bodied and elegantly styled with wonderful freshness and depth, it is compellingly earthy/minerally in the mouth with a frame of seductively silky yet very firm tannins and culminating in a very long, racy and pure finish. Boasting spectacular finesse and packed with nuances, clearly, given some of the challenges here in 2015, this is a masterpiece of diligence in the vineyards, careful selection and very clever crafting—bravo! (96+)

Score: 96

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2024-2045 21 February 2018

Lead and graphite are complimented by notes of blueberries and blackberries. Blackcurrants, too. Full-bodied and focused with very round and polished tannins. Elegance with power. Very classic nature for Lafite. Try in 2022.

Score: 99

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 02 February 2018

Here is a Lafite with lots of muscle and tone. Very tannic and velvety textured.. Full body, fresh acidity and a bright finish. Shows a tenderness at the end. Gorgeous.

Score: 97 - 98

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 01 April 2016

Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2015 Lafite-Rothschild is endowed with serious volume and textural resonance. Super-ripe plum, smoke and spice notes emerge in the glass, but only with great reluctance. Although the aromatics aren't giving much at this point, the palate is much more expressive. The wine's sheer power and authoritative tone result in an unusually dramatic Lafite. The 2015 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot that spent 20 months in oak, which is a bit more than the norm. (96+)

Score: 96

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2055 01 February 2018

A dramatic, ample Lafite, the 2015 is also arrestingly beautiful and vivid. Expressive floral notes give the dark red and black flavors gorgeous aromatic lift. Today, the new oak is a bit pronounced, but otherwise, this is an exceptional wine. Rose petal, lavender, mint and purplish stone fruits add the last shades of detail.

Score: 94 - 97

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2016

The grand vin 2015 Lafite-Rothschild checks in as 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot that was brought all in 100% new oak. Director Eric Kohler (who replaced Charles Chevallier in 2015) told me the vintage suffered a touch of dilution but wasn’t a complicated year. The 2015 is an aristocratic, classy example from this estate that offers textbook lead pencil shavings, tobacco, smoked herbs, and graphite as well as a beautiful core of currant and cassis fruit. It’s the most refined and subtle of the first growths, has medium to full-bodied richness, building tannin, and undeniable class and charm. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades.

Score: 96

Jeb Dunnuck, - Maturity: 2023-2053 30 November 2017

91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot. Deep red and black fruit with mocha and vanilla aromas with a hint of pencil shavings. In the mouth is it broad and carefully extracted with some beautifully textured creamy fruit and round tannins. A lot of smooth concentration, with a long dry finish.

Score: 94 - 96

Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2016

91% Cabernet Sauvignon picked 23 September to 6 October; 9% Merlot picked 17-23 September. Lustrous mid crimson. Lightly spicy nose and very smooth tannins in the Lafite style. Only just enough acidity. Blurry impression. Mild and charming - very restrained and Lafite. It builds on the end in an impressive manner.

Score: 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2040 01 April 2016

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