2019 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
100 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com
So much sweet tobacco, Spanish cedar, dried flowers, dark mushrooms and roses. Really aromatic. This is so polished and very powerful, yet ethereal and refined at the same time. The finish goes on for minutes. Tight and harmonious. You want to drink it! So balanced, yet it will age beautifully. It will be this good forever. 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Better after 2031.
100 William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
One of the greatest wines produced in Bordeaux this year is the 2019 Lafite Rothschild, an impeccably balanced classic of immense charm and grace. Wafting from the glass with arresting aromas of cassis, blackberries and cherries mingled with violets, cigar box and warm spices, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, its velvety attack segueing into a layered, concentrated mid-palate framed by exquisitely powdery tannins and ripe acids, and concluding with a long, perfumed finish. This rivals the 2010 and 2016 as the greatest Lafite of the decade, and of those three vintages, it's clearly the most sensual and demonstrative out of the gates. The blend contains fully 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and attained a modest 13.4% alcohol.
100 Falstaff Magazine
Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the edge. A hint of nougat, ripe cherries, a hint of cassis, fresh orange zest, a hint of fine oak, very inviting. Complex, full-bodied, ripe black cherry fruit, pleasant fruitiness, silky tannins, freshly structured, mineral, a hint of chocolate. Incredibly seductive even at this early stage, great length, certain ageing potential, a wine of enormous charm and great finesse.
100 Izak Litwar - Great Wines of Bordeaux
Tasted in November 2021. Very classy blackcurrant nose, intense and refined. Awesome structure and length. The feel is like drinking liquid cashmere. So aristocratic and sophisticated on the palate with fantastic complexity and length. Eternal stuff!
100 Peter Moser - Falstaff
Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the edge. A hint of nougat, ripe cherries, a hint of cassis, fresh orange zest, a hint of fine oak, very inviting. Complex, full-bodied, ripe black cherry fruit, pleasant fruitiness, silky tannins, freshly structured, mineral, a hint of chocolate. Incredibly seductive even at this early stage, great length, certain ageing potential, a wine of enormous charm and great finesse.
99 Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider
A stunning example of Lafite Rothschild, the wine is deep, ruby in color. The attention seeking perfume serves up its Cuban cigar wrapper, roses, spice box, cedar, lead pencil and array of red fruits and blackberries easily. The most refined of all the First Growths, the 2019 is a modern version of classic Bordeaux at its best. Perfectly balanced, elegant, and deftly situated on the corner of power and harmony, the finish lingers and expands with its layers of sweet, fresh, pure, bright, crisp red fruits, spice, and herbs. The wine blends 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Patient consumers will be rewarded if they are willing to wait before opening a bottle. Drink from 2030-2065
98 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com
The Grand Vin 2019 Château Lafite Rothschild is based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that hit 13.4% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.9. It's a pure, seamless, incredibly accessible Lafite offering a beautiful, classic array of ripe currants, spice box, tobacco, and classic Lafite sandalwood and lead pencil nuances. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced on the palate, it has a seamless, layered mouthfeel, just about perfect tannins, and a finish that just keeps you coming back to the glass. Despite the high pH, it remains fresh, lively, and a perfect example of the class this estate is known for. It's up-front and accessible (and I'd gladly drink a bottle), but smart money will hide bottles for just 5-7 years and enjoy them over the coming 30-40 years.
98 Antonio Galloni - Vinous
The 2019 Lafite-Rothschild is a mesmerizing wine that shows how compelling the vintage is on the Left Bank. Elegant, creamy and exquisitely layered, the 2019 Lafite conquers all the senses. There is tremendous density and power that belies the 12.8% alcohol, but then again, that can be the magic of Bordeaux. Classic Lafite red plum fruit, spice, cedar, licorice and rose petal linger on the striking, persistent finish.
98 James Molesworth - Wine Spectator
A very energetic wine, with wild loganberry, mulberry and black currant fruit flavors that bristle with mouthwatering bay leaf, licorice root and savory notes. The finish is tight now, with charcoal shadings and a smoldering cast iron note, but there's additional black tea, incense and floral hints for contrast. Dense and driven, with more than enough elements to match its energy, meaning this can cruise in the cellar for a long time. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2045.
98 Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux
There is a sense of discretion to this Lafite, full of pencil lead, crayon, chalk-textured minerality, clear grain and grip to the tannins that lets everything unfold slowly and calmly, no drama and yet a slow-building sense of power. Enjoyable precision and chiseling to the spiced cassis and bilberry fruits, this feels supremely Lafite in its balance and finesse. The tight structure relaxes in the glass, adding a layer of creaminess to the blackberry and loganberry fruit. A large majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, and it takes up its dominant role with grace. Brilliant quality. Harvest September 19 to October 7. Lafite always takes its time to show its full potential, and this could easily be a 100 point wine at the 10 year-plus window.
