Carruades de Lafite

Carruades de Lafite is Lafite Rothschild's separate label, complete with a complex background and a clean taste. Named after Plateau des Carruades, a group of plots adjacent to the château’s best vineyards, the label was acquired by the Rothschild family in 1845. It was named Moulin des Carruades from the time of its acquisition until 1980, when the label was renamed Carruades de Lafite, confusing certain wine buyers.

From A Plot of Land To The Main Vineyard

The Carruades plot was historically part of the blend for Château Lafite Rothschild’s Grand Vin but has since been separated to create its distinct wine. The terroir of Carruades is unique, offering a slightly lighter and more approachable character compared to the Grand Vin. The deep clay gravel works beautifully to grow beautiful Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and, at times, Cabernet Franc. While some plots are still used for the Grand Vin, specific pieces are used for the Carruades blend. Additionally, only vines older than 10 years are used for Carruades, while the rest go to the Grand Vin.

Fine Fermentation for Lafite

Similar to Lafite's proprietary blend, Carruades de Lafite is made using traditional Bordeaux winemaking methods. Fermentation processes take place in oak, cement, and stainless-steel vats, and total maceration takes around 20 days. Following fermentation, the wines are moved to French oak barrels to age for 16 months.

Carruades de Lafite: More Than A 'Stepchild'

As many separate labels gain a bad reputation as a 'stepchild' to the flagship label, Carruades offers a cleaner taste compared to its counterpart, thanks to a higher proportion of Merlot. Furthermore, the label has drawn praise from critics for intense flavors and underlying density. The year 2000 was especially good for Bordeaux estates, and the 2000 Carruades de Lafite vintage showcases this exceptionally. Secure your bottle of Carruades de Lafite today.