Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac 2009

Of course, the wine to buy in order to get a look at the Lafite Rothschild style and personality is their second wine, Carruades de Lafite, which has become very fashionable in Asia, causing the prices to soar. A very strong effort, the 2009 Carruades de Lafite may be the finest Carruades since the 2003. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and tiny amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it reveals lots of sweet cassis intermixed with subtle smoke and forest floor, undeniable lusciousness and full-bodied hedonism. The wood component is pushed to the background, and the wine is extremely viscous, round and delicious. Additional complexity should continue to emerge over the next decade and this 2009 should keep for 20-30 years.

(a blend of 51% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 13.5% alcohol; 55% of the total crop) Bright ruby-red. Delicious fruit-forward nose is remarkably charming in its strawberry, blackcurrant and smoky plum aromas. Then fresh and juicy on the palate, with flavors similar to the aromas and hints of flint and black pepper on the long, fruity, mineral-tinged finish. A charming Carruades that should offer immense drinking appeal during the first six to eight years of its life in bottle. Carruades is made from young vines on a north-exposed parcel close to the main chateau building, and from some younger, high-quality vines in the heart of the Lafite vineyard. While these latter centrally located vines are currently too young to be used for the grand vin, says Chevallier, "they have greatness written all over them. And when the grapes are as fully ripe as they were in '09, Carruades is a really lovely wine."

(a blend of 51% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 13.5% alcohol; 55% of the total crop) Bright ruby-red. Delicious fruit-forward nose is remarkably charming in its strawberry, blackcurrant and smoky plum aromas. Then fresh and juicy on the palate, with flavors similar to the aromas and hints of flint and black pepper on the long, fruity, mineral-tinged finish. A charming Carruades that should offer immense drinking appeal during the first six to eight years of its life in bottle. Carruades is made from young vines on a north-exposed parcel close to the main chateau building, and from some younger, high-quality vines in the heart of the Lafite vineyard. While these latter centrally located vines are currently too young to be used for the grand vin, says Chevallier, they have greatness written all over them. And when the grapes are as fully ripe as they were in '09, Carruades is a really lovely wine.