A magnificent expression of the great Pauillac terroir, the Château Lafite Rothschild 2018 is in line with the most exceptional vintages of this prestigious Premier Grand Cru Classé.
An "enfant terrible", 2018 required all the efforts and know-how of the Château Lafite-Rothschild technical teams to triumph over the challenges posed by nature. After the cold and rainy winter, a mild and wet spring followed, bringing a strong mildew pressure to the vineyard. Summer finally began in mid-July, with plenty of sunshine lasting until the date of the harvest. The high temperatures brought water stress for the vines, perfect for the soils and varietals planted in them. Beginning on September 17 with Merlot and ending on October 5, the harvest revealed beautiful, perfectly healthy and fully ripened fruit.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), Merlot (8.5%) and Petit Verdot (0.5%), the Château Lafite Rothschild 2018 expresses the grandeur of the great Pauillac terroir.
A great vintage indeed, the Château Lafite Rothschild 2018 celebrates a very successful 150 years of viticulture at the Domaines Barons de Rothschild.
The 2018 Lafite Rothschild is blended of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot and has 13.3% alcohol. The Merlot was harvested September 17-24, the Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested September 25 to October 5, and the Cabernet Franc was harvested on September 24. It has a deep purple-black color and then WOW--what a nose. It comes sashaying out of the glass with bags of grace and perfume, revealing notions of lilacs, red roses, fragrant soil, cinnamon stick and Morello cherries with a core of blackcurrant cordial, fresh black plums, redcurrant jelly and tapenade plus a waft of iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful, tightly wound layers of black, red and blue fruits intermingled with floral, earth and mineral notions and a rock-solid frame of the most finely pixelated tannins you can possibly imagine. Anyone who wants to see what I mean when I babble about the Lafite tannins needs to try this benchmark. The finish goes on, and on, and on. If this wine doesn't get Bordeaux lovers hearts' racing, nothing will.