In Bond Fine Wine. 2014 Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France. First Growth • Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 97/100 (JA). Drinking window: 2022–2055. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
One of the most sought-after & powerful brands in the world of fine wine. First Growth Chateau Lafite Rothschild is a Bordeaux icon, renowned for its elegance, quality & longevity, favouring restraint and finesse over sheer power. Lafite is globally renowned with particularly strong demand across all markets, notably Asia - especially China, where it became a symbol of status and luxury during the 2000s. Landmark vintages like 1996, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2010 & 2016 continue to reinforce its reputation for quality & technical excellence with subtlety, ageability & authority. Its second wine, Carruades de Lafite, is also in high demand across international markets.
Neal Martin (NM) — 95/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 31/03/2017 · Drink 2024-2045
The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild, tasted with head winemaker Eric Kohler, has retained that very opulent and outgoing bouquet that dare I say actually reminded me of Mouton-Rothschild. There are layers of blackberry and boysenberry fruit, still that hint of juniper berry, certainly a more extrovert Lafite-Rothschild compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very focuse…
Albany Vintners (AV) — 92–96/100 · -, 24/04/2015
Brooding, subtle aromatics then pure blueberry and cedar in the middle. Hints at the ethereal minerality and crushed berry perfume of Lafite but still rather raw and embryonic at this stage. Dry with a long, stony, cassis finish.
Neal Martin (NM) — 92/100 · Vinous, 2024-03-19 · Drink 2026-2055
The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild has a typically refined nose at first, though I notice that it gains more richness after five minutes and replicates the menthol scents that I noticed in the previous bottle four years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, fleshy and ripe. White pepper and fennel infuse the red fruit. Perhaps it doesn't quite "kick on" towards the finish like Mouton, th…