2023 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, 6ltr

JA99 "An architectural Lafite that stretches out endlessly, crafted, delineated, powerful, sappy, with waves of salted cracked, graphite, crushed tobacco, mint leaf, cassis, squid ink, cocoa bean, campfire. Not the concentration of 2022, but in many ways showcasing the essence of Lafite more squarely, and this will delight anyone lucky enough to own it in future years. These Pauillac Firsts are all a little more closed down than I expected after experiencing them En Primeur - more like 2000 than 2001, and are seriously going to age well. 45hl/h yield, harvest September 7 to 29. 100% new oak. Eric Kohler director." JA for IB Dec 2025

AG98 "The 2023 Lafite-Rothschild is a rich, heady wine. A rush of dark-toned fruit, cedar, leather, incense, grilled herbs, tobacco, and chocolate makes a strong opening statement. Powerful and quite tannic, the 2023 is going to need a few years to come into its own. Today, the Grand Vin is decidedly somber and brooding." AG for VM Mar 2026

JS98 "Very perfumed, with currants, orange peel, strawberries, cedar and lead pencil. Medium-bodied, with ultrafine tannins that are completely integrated into the wine, giving a graceful and seductive finish. Weightless. It's so long and caressing, making you smile with each sip. A joyful young Lafite. 93% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Best after 2028 but so beautiful now." JS Dec 2025

DR98 "A clear contender for wine of the vintage. Deep, purple colour on the rim. Some soft herbal and floral aromatics, milk chocolate. A real sense of understated power as Lafite does so well. Not so demonstrative at all, but there’s a gorgeous charming delicacy to this - fine powdery blue fruit tannins with edges of liquorice and slate. Smooth and supple, excellent weight in the mouth, light and streamlined, less overt acidity and brightness than Carruades, but still with a mouthwatering centre that gives strawberry and cherry fruit flavours. Ends with subtle graphite and wet stone, long and lingering though. Just delightful, so elegant and finessed. You can feel the density on the finish, the slight weight of the tannins comes at the end, bringing a controlled and quiet power. I love the sense of ease and seamlessness about this wine, it just slips down. 1% of very old Petit Verdot went into the blend this year. 15% press. 3.8pH. 38% grand vin production. Ageing 90% new oak. A potential 100-point wine." GH for DR Apr 2023