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Lafite Rothschild 2011

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Lafite Rothschild

Label

Tasting Notes

Love the nose on this, with sweet tobacco, delicate currant, cedar and blackberry. Full body with integrated tannins and a juicy, fruity, subtle finish. The texture to this wine is beautiful. Better than I remember from barrel. Try in 2019.

94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, January 2014

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot (harvested between September 3-21), the 2011 Lafite Rothschild came in at 12.6% natural alcohol (considerably lower than in 2010 and 2009). Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple color, lots of crushed rock, red and black currant, forest floor and underbrush characteristics, moderate tannin and medium body, it is built somewhat along the lines of the 1999 and 2001. It should be a 20- to 25-year wine, but it is not at the level of the 2008, 2009 and 2010. Fresh acids give the wine a somewhat more clipped feeling than most great Lafites have exhibited. Nevertheless, there is a lot of freshness and vibrancy to this vintage.

90/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (200), April 2012

The 2011 Lafite-Rothschild was impressive from barrel. It is very composed on the nose with brambly red fruit, loam, touches of sous-bois (decayed autumn leaves). After five minutes, there is a noticeable liquorice scent. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins, a little soft in the middle with a fleshy tarry, liquorice-infused finish that just tapers away. Elegant, refined, but not the First Growth's strongest effort from this period. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. 2022 - 2040

91
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2022

Lafite is currently Bordeaux's most fashionable and hotly demanded wine thanks to the Asian market which has devoured almost every physically available vintage. Situated at the northern limit of Pauillac, some of the vines are actually in St Estephe bordering Cos d'Estournel and Lafon Rochet. This year it is made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. The harvest started in early September and was completed by September 21st. There is good depth of fresh fruit here with noticeable acidity (presumably from the early picking). There are notes of lead pencil and graphite and an attractive silky mouthfeel. There is not the depth of fruit that one associates with a great vintage of Lafite but this is, of course, a very well made wine.

93+
Farr Vintners, March 2012

The nose has lots of blackcurrants quite fresh and lacking in depth. There is a sweeter start to the palate the richer flavours backed by firm black cherry all rather overtaken by firm rather aggressive tannins that hide the fruit giving a leanness to the back palate and a rather short finish.

88/93
Derek Smedley MW, April 2012

Did Lafite pick a little too early in 2011? The tannins in this wine are as powerful as those in 2010, but there is less sweetness and flesh to balance them. The result seems a little over-extracted at present, with lots of coconutty oak but a sense that there isn't quite enough concentration to support them. Time will tell. 8+ years.

94
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2012

Dense black-red, lovely fragrance yet still very firm, a seriously classic Lafite, very long term. Drink 2020-2050.

18.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2012
Read more tasting notes...

The 2011 Lafite-Rothschild is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot with an alcohol level of 12.6%. It has wonderful purity on the nose with blackberry, cassis, raspberry, a touch of graphite and an attractive floral note. It is feminine and beguiling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins on the entry, crisp acidity, very harmonious and alluring with blackberry, raspberry and a saline touch towards the long caressing finish. It is a more sensual Lafite that I was expecting, with great persistency and poise. Tasted April 2012.

93/95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2012

A bit chewy but shows an impressive intensity of spice, sweet tobacco, and currant character. Full, dense and structured. Muscular for the vintage for Lafite. Tobacco box aftertaste. Some wet earth too.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2012
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.