Carruades de Lafite 2021

Baron Eric de Rothschild, chairman of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR), described Château Lafite Rothschild and its terroir as a viticultural tour de force with the power to, “turn bare earth into heaven.” This is no exception for the Second Wine of this property, Carruades de Lafite.  Carruades de Lafite is a formidable wine that allows lovers of the incredible terroir and winemaking prowess of Château Lafite Rothschild to experience the treasures of this estate while waiting for their bottle of grand vin to blossom.

The property is currently headed by Saskia de Rothschild, who took over management responsibilities from her father in 2017.  Prior to that, the property was run by Baron Eric de Rothschild, the chairman of Domaines Barons de Rothschild for 42 years. This holding company has vineyards all over the globe, including China, Argentina and Chile.  The château has been owned by the same branch of the Rothschild family since 1868.  The wine from this estate has continued to captivate the minds of wine drinkers around the globe. The late American president Thomas Jefferson was reported to have been a lifelong consumer of its great wines.  He had a penchant for the finer things and spent $10,000 on his wines one year -- that's the equivalent of 1 million dollars today.  A hefty amount of that purchase consisted of wines from Château Lafite Rothschild and the other great First Growth, Château Haut Brion.  Naturally, his extravagant lifestyle led him into debt and towards the end of his life he was practically penniless.  His biggest regret? That he couldn't drink wine from Château Lafite Rothschild anymore.

Lafite Rothschild has an illustrious past, with references to its exalted wines that date back to as early as 1234.  The chateau rose to prominence in the 17th century, largely due to contributions of Marquis Nicolas Alexandre de Ségur.  Known as, “The Wine Prince,” the Marquis de Ségur improved the viticultural techniques at Lafite and introduced the wines to royalty at the court of Versailles.  The excellence of the wine was undeniable, and soon Lafite Rothschild’s Grand Vin became known as the wine of kings.  Lafite Rothschild cemented its reputation when it was recognized as one of the First Growths of the 1855 Classification, earning it much-deserved prestige on a global scale.  As the years progressed, new innovations improved the viticultural process on the estate.  Dairy cows were introduced to organically fertilize the property, and the estate built its own cooperage for making barrels to age the wines to perfection.  At Lafite Rothschild, tradition marries artistic innovation, and the result is great wine for generations.

Carruades de Lafite has similar characteristics to the grand vin of Château Lafite Rothschild.  Its name derives from the Carruades plateau, a group of plots that were acquired in 1845 near the vines on the Château hilltop.  The wine has a softer feel, largely due to the higher percentages of Merlot.  Yet make no mistake, Carruades de Lafite is a formidable Second Wine with plenty of ageing power. 

"The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is gorgeous. Supple, dynamic and lively, the 2021 pulses with energy. It's a wine of vibrancy. Dark cherry fruit, plum, grilled herbs and graphite all build effortlessly in the glass. There's a bit of graininess in the tannin, yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. There's a ton to like, that's for sure." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (02/28/2024), Ratings: 92

"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." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (2/08/2024) Rating: 91

"A ton of concentration and hidden power, this is a Carruades that is very Lafite in style, subtle with pencil lead, slate, Pauillac signature, intense but with clear austerity, touches of fennel, rosebud and dried leaf. Mouthwatering, with plenty to get hold of. Has the focus and tunnel vision of Lafite and needs time in bottle, should be at its peak within 10 to 15 years. 1st year organic conversion. 40% of overall production, 34hl/h yields." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux (4/7/2022) Rating: 91

''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'' - Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2021 From Bottle (4/3/2024) Ratings: 91