Carruades de Lafite 2021

The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is mostly composed of the younger replacement vines dotted throughout Lafite's vineyards on the plateau, which are harvested separately. Offering up aromas of red berries, cassis, cedar box and orange rind, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and layered, with good concentration and a long, penetrating finish. It's a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, part of which was matured in wooden vats rather than barriques.

Sweet black cherries and plums on the nose with blackcurrant leaf touches. Excellent intensity and vibrancy here, you really feel the energy – acidity is good but you get the rush of fruits and the persistence that says: 'I've got so much life in me and I want to show it off' – this is ready and raring to go! It's well worked with fine tannins and a long finish. The power and structure is there – it's just super explosive at this point. You almost want to enjoy this now, or certainly soon, but it'll go the distance too. Punchy with a joyous spirit! 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

The currants, cedar and violets are very bright on the nose, with sandalwood undertones and pencil shavings. This is medium-bodied, beautiful and firm, with finesse and real Lafite character for their second wine. Racy at the end. Drinkable now but even better in three or four years.

Tobacco leaf, wet forest floor, leafy herbs, cedar and red currants create the perfume. On the palate, the wine exudes freshness, elegance, crisp, bright, sweet, energetic fruits and a finish with a touch of spice in the zesty endnote. This wine was made from a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2042. 91-93

Vivid dark ruby, purple overtones on the narrow rim. Ripe dark cherries, a touch of blackberries, floral, candied orange zest, with a hint of fig in the background. Juicy, elegant, fresh, well-structured, fine tannins and bright acidity; a harmonious, lively food companion with a salty red-berry finish. Has a lovely future and ageing potential.

The 2021 Carruades De Lafite is beautiful, with some classic Lafite elegance in its medium-bodied aromas and flavors of red fruits, leather, dried flowers, and spicy wood. It has ultra-fine tannins, a soft, supple mouthfeel, and outstanding length. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Dark, dense color. With ultra-fine cassis fruit and ample depth in the background, Carruades 2021 delivers an impressively generous, concentrated nose. Velvety, concentrated, and precise, it shows ultra-fine tannins on the palate—noble, deep, highly appealing, and complex. Classic Lafite character with fine-grained tannins, elegant structure, and small-berry aromatics. Extremely well balanced, it’s clear this second wine will soon be ready to drink and very delicate.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc) Fresh, floral, silky, fragrant bouquet, cassis, mint, herbs, licorice. Fine-boned, elegant, fresh palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, a gently creamy texture, powerful sweet aromatics, and a long, sweet finish.

(55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc) Fresh, floral, silky, fragrant bouquet, cassis, mint, herbs, licorice. Delicate, elegant, fresh palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, subtly creamy texture, powerful sweet aromatics, long, sweet finish. 17/20 2027 - 2040

This has developed lovely depth with ageing, delivering on its promise, and shows classic, slightly old-school Pauillac flavours, focusing on crayon, slate, pencil lead, cassis bud, rose bud, with tension and restrained power. Highly successful. 1st year of organic conversion. 40% of overall production, yields of 34 hl/ha.

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, 2021 Carruades de Lafite is deep garnet-purple in color. It pops from the glass with energetic notes of black raspberries, redcurrant preserves, and juicy blackberries, giving way to touches of wild sage, iron ore, and mossy tree bark. The light-bodied palate is still very tightly wound, with great tension and vivacious red and black berry flavors, finishing with an herbal lift.

A luxurious nose, richly embroidered, deep and complex with purple fruits, shimmering notes of graphite, and a vegetal vibrancy. On the palate, the wine shows silky flow, dynamism and energy, with juicy intensity, concentrated fruit, a spicy note, and a sappy finish. A very good second wine: balanced, generous, lifted.

Dark, intense, purple color. Very aromatic nose, delicate, fruity and pure. Caressing on the attack, juicy mid-palate, flavorful, with a fine glycerol feel gliding across the palate like a great white Bourgogne; the wine finishes tasty and distinguished, on a seamless framework. Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 12.9% - pH: 3.7.

Cherries and ripe black-currants give this second-label wine a generous, open character. It is succulent with rich tannins and pure black-currant acidity. This is sure to age well. Drink from 2028.