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Carruades de Lafite (2nd wine of Ch Lafite) 2010

Pauillac, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

The 2010 Carruades de Lafite has a slightly muddled, oxidative nose. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy red berry fruit, lighter than its peers with just a little dryness towards the bottle. Not sure how representative this bottle is. Faulty? Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.

Score: 88

Neal Martin, Vinous.com 01 April 2020

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.5% Merlot, 2.4% Petit Verdot and 5.1% Cabernet Franc, the Carruades has moderate intensity on the nose with scents of blackberry leaf, briary, a touch of cedar and some tobacco notes. The palate is a little disjointed at the moment, the tannins accentuated and a little aggressive at first, some pleasant mulberry and dark plum/cedar accents towards the finish but missing the harmony that anticipated. Tasted March 2011.

Score: 88 - 90

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 15 April 2011

Deep ruby. Perfumed aromas of cassis, violet and graphite minerality. Pure, very fresh dark berry and mineral flavors carry through the long, refined, almost dainty finish. The tannins are impressively silky for a second wine, but this nonetheless shows a hint of astringency at the back, which may be resolved with time in bottle.

Score: 90

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 July 2013

This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone. Try in 2016.

Score: 95

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2016+ 04 February 2013

Incredible smoke, currants and blackberries. Spices too. Full bodied, with ultra-polished tannins and blackberries, blueberries and minerals. Orange peel too. Best Carruades ever.

Score: 95 - 96

James Suckling, 'Wines of the Rhone Valley' 11 April 2011

Another brilliant second wine, the 2010 Carruades de Lafite (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot) is elegant and amazing for a second wine from Lafite. 'Carruades de Lafite' is now engraved in the bottle to prevent unscrupulous sommeliers and merchants from trying to pass it off as Lafite Rothschild. The wine displays much of the same lead pencil, charcoal and black currant notes of its bigger sister, although it is forward, precocious and far less structured than the grand vin. Nevertheless, this wine, which can be drunk now, will cellar beautifully for at least 20-25 more years.

Score: 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 February 2013

Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot and a dollop of Cabernet Franc, the beautiful 2010 Carruades de Lafite may turn out to be one of the finest yet produced (although I still have a weakness for the brilliant 2003, which is drinking beautifully at present). Notes of charcoal, black currants, sweet cherries, licorice, herbs and cedar are all present in this full-bodied, opulent, stunning second wine. It will be drinkable upon release and should last for 20 or more years.

Score: 91 - 94

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

Deep ruby-purple. Highly perfumed, enticing nose offers spicy blackcurrant, violet and minerals. Fresh and sweet in the mouth, with almost syrupy blackberry, plum and saline flavors showing plenty of flesh without any undue heaviness. Nice floral persistence on the slightly simple, sweet, very accessible finish. Though the tannins are youthfully chewy, there is none of the astringency displayed by many merlot-rich 2010 wines. When I mentioned to technical director Charles Chevalier that I loved this wine's dainty, smooth personality, he pointed out that most of the grapes used to make Carruades come from vines planted on soils with a higher percentage of clay, which partly explains why this merlot-rich wine doesn't show astringent tannins.

Score: 87 - 90

Ian D'Agata, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2011

Dark ruby purple. Aromatic with a hint of lead. Lovely textured. A hint of green on the back but super-fruity and lots of fruit punch and typicity. Lively.

Score: 91 - 93

Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2011

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Mid crimson without great colour intensity. Very savoury and glossy. Immediate polish on the nose here. Raspberries and tar. Great intensity and fluidity. Really this is SO much better than it used to be. Very fine wine by any measure. Bone dry. Minerals and chew on the end but no rustic tannins. Very fine and long. It is admirable that Charles Chevalier puts so much effort into this wine which, although admittedly it is expensive, could be sold several times over in China whatever it tasted like.

Score: 17 - 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2030 20 April 2011

Fine fragrance and elegance over layers of complexity, perfect harmony, Pauillac at its most refined.

Score: 17 - 18

Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2016-2026 01 April 2011

Remarkably tight, offering black currant and sanguine notes laced with sandalwood and roasted fig. This is also tight-grained on the finish and is really long, with the acidity just going on and on. Only 10 percent new oak. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 93 - 96

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 31 March 2011