Château LAFITE ROTHSCHILD 2014
In Pauillac, Château Lafite Rothschild occupies one of the most prestigious terroirs of the Médoc, on deep slopes of fine gravel mixed with windblown sands resting on a limestone subsoil. First Grand Cru Classé in 1855, the estate has belonged to the Rothschild family since 1868 and remains associated with a style of great restraint, based on finesse rather than demonstration. The vineyard is largely dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, a grape variety particularly suited to the gravelly soils of Pauillac and the slow ripening allowed by the proximity of the estuary. Merlot completes this structure with more flesh and suppleness, while small proportions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot may be included depending on the vintage. Parcel work allows precise isolation of the different terroirs and only lots meeting the château's level of requirement are retained for the grand vin. The 2014 vintage experienced a contrasting season, saved by a very beautiful late summer which allowed the Cabernets to reach remarkable maturity. This configuration gives a particularly classic, upright and fresh Lafite, whose depth is expressed more by length and precision than by power.
Château Lafite Rothschild 2014 blends 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. This high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon structures the wine around a fine, deep, and very persistent framework, while Merlot adds volume to the mid-palate. Cabernet Franc intervenes discreetly but contributes to the aromatic complexity and freshness of the whole. The grapes are vinified parcel by parcel to preserve the identity of each lot before the final blend. Aging in French oak barrels then gradually accompanies the wine's structure and refines naturally tight but very fine tannins. The 2014 vintage is distinguished by a less opulent expression than the sunniest years, but by remarkable fruit definition and great purity of line. After more than a decade in bottle, it begins to open while retaining a very important aging potential.
The color shows a deep garnet with still strong ruby reflections. The nose opens on blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry, then develops nuances of graphite, cedar, and violet. Aeration gradually reveals blond tobacco, licorice, fine spices, and a touch of wet stone that enhances the mineral character of the bouquet. The palate is slender, precise, and very fine, with silky tannins that build the structure without ever weighing down the matter. Cabernet Sauvignon brings remarkable length, while Merlot gives just enough flesh to balance the wine's natural tension. The finish is long, fresh, and very persistent, on blackcurrant, graphite, cedar, and fine spicy notes. Château Lafite Rothschild 2014 will accompany a beef fillet, a roasted rack of lamb, pigeon with cep mushrooms, veal with morels, or refined cuisine around black truffle.
Grape varieties: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
