Carruades de Lafite 2022
• Domaine: Château Lafite-Rothschild
• Appellation: Pauillac
• Classification: Second Wine, First Growth, 1èr Grand Cru Classé
• Origin: Left Bank, Bordeaux, France
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.
Tasting Notes
"The 2022 Carruades de Lafite is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a swirl or two to reveal evocative notes of blackcurrant jelly, black raspberries, and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of iris bulb, tilled soil, and crushed cloves. The medium-bodied palate is typically elegant, minerally, and refreshing, with firm, fine-grained tannins to provide support, and a long, lifted finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent (5/2023) Ratings: 91-93
"Aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with hints of cedar box, loamy soil, warm spices, violets and orange zest introduce the 2022 Carruades de Lafite, a medium to full-bodied, bright and velvety blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (4/28/2023) Ratings: 91-93
"The second wine of Lafite checks in as 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. This smoking good second wine has more than a little Lafite character and offers ample red and black fruits, notes of tobacco, graphite, and leafy herbs, medium to full-bodied richness, silky, polished tannins, and a great finish. As with the Grand Vin, it's concentrated, powerful, and flawlessly balanced." - Jeb Dunnuck, (5/11/2023) Ratings: 93-95
"The 2022 Carruades de Lafite is a real showstopper. I don’t remember tasting a Carruades quite like the 2022, a wine that combines the richness of the year with tons of supporting structure. Super-ripe red-fleshed fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon and rose petal all race across the palate, supported by bright citrus-driven acids that keep the flavors vibrant. I can’t wait to see how this turns out." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous (5/2023) Ratings: 92-94, Drink: 2028-2042
Stock Status | Futures |
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Appellation | Pauillac |
Vintage | 2022 |
Brand | Château Lafite Rothschild |
Shipping Weight | 3.000000 |