Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

Second time having this wine this year with consistent thoughts. It’s delicious and very approachable for a Lafite. Light on its feet. The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, stewed/spiced plum, raspberries on the glass edges, poached strawberries and hints of blue fruits. Dark chocolate, caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, black licorice, anise, dry stems, crushed dry rocks, dry top soil, clay, rich, dark earth, Indian/Asian spices, limestone, stones with dark, red, purple, candied florals in a field of violets. The body is round, silky and just full. The structure, tension, length and and balance are astounding. The tannins, light on their feet but, grip with round tarriness. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, stewed/spiced plum, raspberries on the glass edges, poached strawberries and hints of blue fruits. Dark chocolate, caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, black licorice, anise, dry stems, crushed dry rocks, dry top soil, clay, rich, dark earth, chewy leather, cigar with ash, Indian/Asian spices with medium heat, limestone, stones with dark, red, purple, candied florals in a field of violets. The acidity is perfect and holds the higher alcohol well. The finish is very well balanced, polished and persists endlessly. With proper cellaring this flirts with a perfect score in 20 plus years. Photos of; Chateau Lafite Rothschild, their barrel room, oak aging vats and Estate vines.

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Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2015 Lafite-Rothschild is endowed with serious volume and textural resonance. Super-ripe plum, smoke and spice notes emerge in the glass, but only with great reluctance. Although the aromatics aren't giving much at this point, the palate is much more expressive. The wine's sheer power and authoritative tone result in an unusually dramatic Lafite. The 2015 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot that spent 20 months in oak, which is a bit more than the norm. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2018)

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. The nose reveals; bright, very ripe, slightly candied; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, blackberries notes and poached strawberries. Beautiful violet florals, black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, light graphite, saddle-wood, limestone minerals, dry stone, rich dark earth, just a touch of dry herbs with red, dark, blue flowers with violets. Surprisingly fresh and soft for a Lafite this young. The fruits are lean, ripe and slightly creamy. Lively on the palate. The body light for Bordeaux and the tannins round and soft. The structure, tension softer for Lafite. The length and balance are excellent. Mouthfeel incredible. Bright, ripe, slightly candied; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, blackberries notes and poached strawberries. Beautiful violet florals, black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, dry brush, mocha, light graphite, saddle-wood, underbrush, dry crushed rocks, dark rich earth, just a touch of dry herbs with bright red, dark, blue flowers with violets. The acidy is perfect. The finish is smooth, soft, elegant and incredible balanced and persists on and on. The most approachable young Lafite that I’ve had but, I’d still hold it for 20 plus years so shows more complexity and fully integrates. All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau. Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.

Blair Campomizzi

Exceptional! Velvety, silky all that goodness. Red current, raspberry with support of a graphite and tea backbone.

Andrew Cullimore

Medium deep ruby , medium wide ruby core . Quite aromatic , tobacco , sweet spicy oak , ripe red currant , violet , light cassis . On the palate more mineral and earthy , lovely fine tannins , round generous very well balanced acidity , quite saline with that spicy oak coming back . After coming back to this after a couple of hours the oak is really apparent and covers up most of the rest of the wine. Very young , 15 years to fully integrate and will probably plateau for a further 15 -25 at least .

Stanislav Lobanov

17+/20 (92+/100) Сдержанный аромат, в котором преобладают кофейно-шоколадные ноты, есть несладкие чёрные ягоды и ваниль. Довольно тельное с высокой кислотностью, танины не очень интенсивные, деликатно-бархатистые по текстуре. Насыщенное во вкусе с продолжительным послевкусием. Сейчас это вино однозначно пить нельзя, оно для выдержки. #annualclaterttasting

Phil Castellano

The 2015's from St. Emilion are already showing greatness as evidenced here. Was surprised they let us do a "barrel tasting" from this vintage. I was shocked by the complexity and easy drinking nature of this offering since most wines from this region need years of aging before they are approachable.