Lafite Rothschild 2021

Pauillac, First Growth

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Tasting Notes
One of the wines of the vintage, as it was En Primeur, and delivers grip and character, laced with slate, graceful cool blue and black fruit. Finessed tannins opens to show waves of sage, liqourice root, cloves and forest floor. Almost entirely Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Petit Verdot slice from 100 year old grapes. 34hl/h yield, harvest September 22 to October 8, 90% new oak for ageing. A long-ageing wine within the context of the vintage, and a reminder that this is a wine that takes all kind of weather conditions in its stride. 1st year organic conversion. Score: 96 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2028-2041 02 April 2024
The 2021 Lafite-Rothschild is every bit as exceptional as it was from barrel. The high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon comes through loud and clear. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2021 is dark, racy and full of Lafite sensuality, all kicked up by the natural intensity of the year. Dark red/purplish fruit, mint, lavender and rose petal are all on display. It’s not a showy wine, and it will need quite a bit of time to fully reveal its charms. Score: 97 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2031-2081 27 February 2024
The 2021 Lafite-Rothschild is driven by the Cabernet Sauvignon, as you would expect with 96% in the blend. Blackberry, cigar box and touches of gravel are entwined with the fruit— linear and quintessentially Lafite. The palate is medium-bodied with chiseled tannins. It's a growing season that suits the style of Lafite-Rothschild, classically built and not austere because there is fine depth and weight, but there is a sense of paradoxical weightlessness and a dash of cracked black pepper on the finish. Excellent. Score: 95 Neal Martin, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2030-2070 22 February 2024
Deep crimson hue. Customary elegance rather than power. Perfumed nose, attractive fruit and a surprising density of tannin (15% press wine to bolster the structure). Quite discreet and measured in its form but good length and should improve further in bottle. Score: 17+ James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2030-2050 11 May 2022
Polished and refined with a firm, fine and linear tannin structure. Harmonious. Perfumed violets, roses and subtle licorice. All in balance here, with precise layers of black fruit, minerals and pencil lead. Rather seamless. Firm, yet fine and sleek to the end. Very classy. Fine-velvet texture. 96% cabernet sauvignon, 3% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Score: 97 - 98 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 01 May 2022
A brilliant wine that shares some similarities with the formidable 1996, the 2021 Lafite Rothschild wafts from the glass with inviting aromas of dark berries, cigar box, loamy soil, black truffle and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with beautifully powdery tannins, lively acids and a long, saline finish. Of course, this isn't as dramatic as the 2020 or 2019 out of the gates, but the 2021 is a brilliant success in its own right. What's more, its structure and balance mean that it is likely to prove almost immortal. It's a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, which is one of the all-time highest percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon chez Lafite. Score: 95 - 97 William Kelley, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 29 April 2022
I loved the Grand Vin 2021 Château Lafite-Rothschild, and if anyone is going to excel in a cooler, elegant vintage like 2021, it will be Château Lafite. Based on 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, is has a brilliant perfume of pure crème de cassis, spring flowers, graphite, gravelly earth, and sandalwood, which will turn toward more classic Lafite cedar pencil with age. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has supple, elegant, yet substantial tannins, great balance, and a beautiful finish. Like most wines from this estate, it has a classy, regal, incredibly impressive style. Score: 94 - 96 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 06 February 2022

Tasting Notes

One of the wines of the vintage, as it was En Primeur, and delivers grip and character, laced with slate, graceful cool blue and black fruit. Finessed tannins opens to show waves of sage, liqourice root, cloves and forest floor. Almost entirely Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Petit Verdot slice from 100 year old grapes. 34hl/h yield, harvest September 22 to October 8, 90% new oak for ageing. A long-ageing wine within the context of the vintage, and a reminder that this is a wine that takes all kind of weather conditions in its stride. 1st year organic conversion.

Score: 96

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2028-2041 02 April 2024

The 2021 Lafite-Rothschild is every bit as exceptional as it was from barrel. The high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon comes through loud and clear. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2021 is dark, racy and full of Lafite sensuality, all kicked up by the natural intensity of the year. Dark red/purplish fruit, mint, lavender and rose petal are all on display. It’s not a showy wine, and it will need quite a bit of time to fully reveal its charms.

Score: 97

Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2031-2081 27 February 2024

The 2021 Lafite-Rothschild is driven by the Cabernet Sauvignon, as you would expect with 96% in the blend. Blackberry, cigar box and touches of gravel are entwined with the fruit— linear and quintessentially Lafite. The palate is medium-bodied with chiseled tannins. It's a growing season that suits the style of Lafite-Rothschild, classically built and not austere because there is fine depth and weight, but there is a sense of paradoxical weightlessness and a dash of cracked black pepper on the finish. Excellent.

Score: 95

Neal Martin, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2030-2070 22 February 2024

Deep crimson hue. Customary elegance rather than power. Perfumed nose, attractive fruit and a surprising density of tannin (15% press wine to bolster the structure). Quite discreet and measured in its form but good length and should improve further in bottle.

Score: 17+

James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2030-2050 11 May 2022

Polished and refined with a firm, fine and linear tannin structure. Harmonious. Perfumed violets, roses and subtle licorice. All in balance here, with precise layers of black fruit, minerals and pencil lead. Rather seamless. Firm, yet fine and sleek to the end. Very classy. Fine-velvet texture. 96% cabernet sauvignon, 3% merlot and 1% petit verdot.

Score: 97 - 98

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 01 May 2022

A brilliant wine that shares some similarities with the formidable 1996, the 2021 Lafite Rothschild wafts from the glass with inviting aromas of dark berries, cigar box, loamy soil, black truffle and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with beautifully powdery tannins, lively acids and a long, saline finish. Of course, this isn't as dramatic as the 2020 or 2019 out of the gates, but the 2021 is a brilliant success in its own right. What's more, its structure and balance mean that it is likely to prove almost immortal. It's a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, which is one of the all-time highest percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon chez Lafite.

Score: 95 - 97

William Kelley, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 29 April 2022

I loved the Grand Vin 2021 Château Lafite-Rothschild, and if anyone is going to excel in a cooler, elegant vintage like 2021, it will be Château Lafite. Based on 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, is has a brilliant perfume of pure crème de cassis, spring flowers, graphite, gravelly earth, and sandalwood, which will turn toward more classic Lafite cedar pencil with age. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has supple, elegant, yet substantial tannins, great balance, and a beautiful finish. Like most wines from this estate, it has a classy, regal, incredibly impressive style.

Score: 94 - 96

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 06 February 2022

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