Lafite Rothschild 2010

Pauillac, First Growth

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Tasting Notes
The 2011 Cornas Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes offers an explosive nose of spring flowers, blackberries, blueberry liqueur, camphor and charcoal. It is a full-bodied, intensely concentrated wine that represents the essence of Cornas. The tannins are sweet, the acidity present but low and the wine is already accessible. It is capable of lasting 10-15 years. Vincent Paris is a child of Cornas and his biodynamically run estate now encompasses around 17-18 acres, from which he fashions three remarkable cuvees, the Granite 30, Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes and an offering from the well-known parcel of La Geynale. Paris has enjoyed three consecutive remarkable vintages (as have a number of the finest Cornas producers), 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Granite 30 generally comes from the lower hillside parcels of a lieu-dit called Mazards with soils that are mostly decomposed granite. These are also his youngest vines. You would never know that by tasting what Paris has produced in 2011 and 2010. The Granite 60 comes from three separate parcels of a lieu-dit called Sauman, which is opposite of another famous lieu-dit called Reynard. As Paris says, this is an area that gives more body as well as freshness than other terroirs in Cornas. Vines planted in these three parcels are 20, 60 and 100 years of age. Score: 99 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: n/a 13 March 2013
The 2010 is a blend of 87.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12.8% Merlot, cropped between 24th September until 13th October, delivering 13.48% alcohol at pH 3.82. Whereas the 2009 Lafite was an immediate 'wow', this is far more introspective and broody, particular coming directly after Latour. Deep, dusky dark berried fruit, a touch of cedar and pencil box. Good definition but not as expressive or as vigorous as I was expected. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced with fine but structure tannins, masculine in style, understated compared to Latour. I take a little sip (pourquoi pas?) and there is another annexe of dark cherry and a touch of boysenberry. Hints of cedar and spice towards the dry, tannic finish. This is a Lafite that will grow during its élevage. Drink 2020- Tasted March 2011. Score: 95 - 97 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020+ 15 April 2011
This is shy and not giving its all at the moment. Yet it is full and intense with a tightly intertwined tannic and fruit structure. Ethereal blackberry, currant, cedar, and nutty flavors. Dried flowers too. Cedar jewel box smell comes out with time. Great finish. So, so long and harmonious. Try in 2018. Score: 99 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2018+ 04 February 2013
Believe the hype. Lafite is perfect in 2010. The nose is amazing with sweet tobacco, dark chocolate and currants. It is amazing. It’s like gazing into the blue sky in wonder after tasting this young wine. Full and powerful with amazing minerals, currants and bitter chocolate. It starts off slowly and then finishes with a bang. This is really layered and wonderful. It goes on and on. Stunning. Score: 100 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 11 April 2011
New cellar with smaller, epoxy-line concrete tanks (35-70 hl), allowing more precise handling of smaller parcels, eg last year they had one vat of Cabernet Franc and this year four. Same architect and project manager as Petrus. Yield 38.5 hl/ha (as Le Pin) so they could be selective. 11% Cabernet Franc, 89% Merlot. Cabernet Franc was 'flat' but not unripe. Merlot was better this year. 100% Merlot was luscious and fat and needed a bit of Cabernet Franc. pH 3.67. 70% new oak. Deep dark crimson. Refined dark fruit - blackcurrant pastilles and a touch cedary. Very precise and fresh and has a nice tightness about it without being highly strung. Even with that refinement it has rich, velvety depth in the middle. Long without evident power. Cool and fluid on the finish. Score: 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2023-2073+ 01 February 2013
This exceptionally rich, thick Lafite came in with the highest level of natural alcohol (13.5%) ever achieved at Lafite Rothschild. To put that in its proper context, the 2009 and 2005 were 13.3% and in the hottest Bordeaux summer ever recorded in over 200 years, the 2003 achieved 12.8%. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, all harvested between October 9 and 14, the 2010 exhibits an extraordinarily dense color, an unctuous texture and sweet black currant fruit intermixed with graphite, charcoal and truffle notes. A director Charles Chevalier told me, between July and the October harvest, Bordeaux had its driest weather since 1949, but it never got excessively hot. Hence the tiny berries, freshness and extraordinary precision of Lafite Rothschild. This superb effort will undoubtedly shut down slightly once it is bottled despite a pH of 3.8. It needs no building up because much of Lafite Rothschild has now become an obsession with the wealthy Chinese and most of it will undoubtedly be consumed before it ever hits its prime. Ideally, it should be cellared for 10-15 years and drunk over the following 50+ years. Score: 98 - 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 04 May 2011
Deep colour and a classically Lafite nose of minerals, pure fresh berries and tar. Sublimely expressive and measured though still introvert by Lafite standards. The texture is velvety and reaches every corner. Good energy, and a hint of espresso richness on the long, long tannic finish. Perfectly integrated. Score: 96 - 98 Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2011
Fabulous nose of wild violets, wonderful lissom texture backed by aristocratic firmness, a totally captivating wine for the long term. Score: 20 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2020-2050 01 April 2011
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot. Now, will this be the only time I ever get to see this wine, before it all migrates east? Very intense dark blackish crimson. Lovely Lafite scent - recognisable member of the family with a hint of oyster shells. But some extra breadth, even fat, this year. Hugely ambitious. Dense and quite dry on the end. But with Lafite breed and race. Somehow manages to have real roundness, covering the notable acidity and doubtless tannins which are very difficult to discern. Already a marvel and a pleasure to taste. Lovely, lovely balance. Score: 19 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2025-2050 01 April 2011
This is all guile and elegance now, with sleek, perfumy black tea, currant and crushed fig fruit, laced with subtle smoke, incense and tar. Just as you think it starts to fade, the acidity kicks in on the finish and brings everything back for an encore. Tasted non-blind. Score: 96 - 99 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 31 March 2011

Tasting Notes

The 2011 Cornas Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes offers an explosive nose of spring flowers, blackberries, blueberry liqueur, camphor and charcoal. It is a full-bodied, intensely concentrated wine that represents the essence of Cornas. The tannins are sweet, the acidity present but low and the wine is already accessible. It is capable of lasting 10-15 years. Vincent Paris is a child of Cornas and his biodynamically run estate now encompasses around 17-18 acres, from which he fashions three remarkable cuvees, the Granite 30, Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes and an offering from the well-known parcel of La Geynale. Paris has enjoyed three consecutive remarkable vintages (as have a number of the finest Cornas producers), 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Granite 30 generally comes from the lower hillside parcels of a lieu-dit called Mazards with soils that are mostly decomposed granite. These are also his youngest vines. You would never know that by tasting what Paris has produced in 2011 and 2010. The Granite 60 comes from three separate parcels of a lieu-dit called Sauman, which is opposite of another famous lieu-dit called Reynard. As Paris says, this is an area that gives more body as well as freshness than other terroirs in Cornas. Vines planted in these three parcels are 20, 60 and 100 years of age.

Score: 99

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: n/a 13 March 2013

The 2010 is a blend of 87.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12.8% Merlot, cropped between 24th September until 13th October, delivering 13.48% alcohol at pH 3.82. Whereas the 2009 Lafite was an immediate 'wow', this is far more introspective and broody, particular coming directly after Latour. Deep, dusky dark berried fruit, a touch of cedar and pencil box. Good definition but not as expressive or as vigorous as I was expected. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced with fine but structure tannins, masculine in style, understated compared to Latour. I take a little sip (pourquoi pas?) and there is another annexe of dark cherry and a touch of boysenberry. Hints of cedar and spice towards the dry, tannic finish. This is a Lafite that will grow during its élevage. Drink 2020- Tasted March 2011.

Score: 95 - 97

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020+ 15 April 2011

This is shy and not giving its all at the moment. Yet it is full and intense with a tightly intertwined tannic and fruit structure. Ethereal blackberry, currant, cedar, and nutty flavors. Dried flowers too. Cedar jewel box smell comes out with time. Great finish. So, so long and harmonious. Try in 2018.

Score: 99

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2018+ 04 February 2013

Believe the hype. Lafite is perfect in 2010. The nose is amazing with sweet tobacco, dark chocolate and currants. It is amazing. It’s like gazing into the blue sky in wonder after tasting this young wine. Full and powerful with amazing minerals, currants and bitter chocolate. It starts off slowly and then finishes with a bang. This is really layered and wonderful. It goes on and on. Stunning.

Score: 100

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 11 April 2011

New cellar with smaller, epoxy-line concrete tanks (35-70 hl), allowing more precise handling of smaller parcels, eg last year they had one vat of Cabernet Franc and this year four. Same architect and project manager as Petrus. Yield 38.5 hl/ha (as Le Pin) so they could be selective. 11% Cabernet Franc, 89% Merlot. Cabernet Franc was 'flat' but not unripe. Merlot was better this year. 100% Merlot was luscious and fat and needed a bit of Cabernet Franc. pH 3.67. 70% new oak. Deep dark crimson. Refined dark fruit - blackcurrant pastilles and a touch cedary. Very precise and fresh and has a nice tightness about it without being highly strung. Even with that refinement it has rich, velvety depth in the middle. Long without evident power. Cool and fluid on the finish.

Score: 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2023-2073+ 01 February 2013

This exceptionally rich, thick Lafite came in with the highest level of natural alcohol (13.5%) ever achieved at Lafite Rothschild. To put that in its proper context, the 2009 and 2005 were 13.3% and in the hottest Bordeaux summer ever recorded in over 200 years, the 2003 achieved 12.8%. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, all harvested between October 9 and 14, the 2010 exhibits an extraordinarily dense color, an unctuous texture and sweet black currant fruit intermixed with graphite, charcoal and truffle notes. A director Charles Chevalier told me, between July and the October harvest, Bordeaux had its driest weather since 1949, but it never got excessively hot. Hence the tiny berries, freshness and extraordinary precision of Lafite Rothschild. This superb effort will undoubtedly shut down slightly once it is bottled despite a pH of 3.8. It needs no building up because much of Lafite Rothschild has now become an obsession with the wealthy Chinese and most of it will undoubtedly be consumed before it ever hits its prime. Ideally, it should be cellared for 10-15 years and drunk over the following 50+ years.

Score: 98 - 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 04 May 2011

Deep colour and a classically Lafite nose of minerals, pure fresh berries and tar. Sublimely expressive and measured though still introvert by Lafite standards. The texture is velvety and reaches every corner. Good energy, and a hint of espresso richness on the long, long tannic finish. Perfectly integrated.

Score: 96 - 98

Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2011

Fabulous nose of wild violets, wonderful lissom texture backed by aristocratic firmness, a totally captivating wine for the long term.

Score: 20

Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2020-2050 01 April 2011

87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot. Now, will this be the only time I ever get to see this wine, before it all migrates east? Very intense dark blackish crimson. Lovely Lafite scent - recognisable member of the family with a hint of oyster shells. But some extra breadth, even fat, this year. Hugely ambitious. Dense and quite dry on the end. But with Lafite breed and race. Somehow manages to have real roundness, covering the notable acidity and doubtless tannins which are very difficult to discern. Already a marvel and a pleasure to taste. Lovely, lovely balance.

Score: 19

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2025-2050 01 April 2011

This is all guile and elegance now, with sleek, perfumy black tea, currant and crushed fig fruit, laced with subtle smoke, incense and tar. Just as you think it starts to fade, the acidity kicks in on the finish and brings everything back for an encore. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 96 - 99

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 31 March 2011

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