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Lafite Rothschild 2015

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Also available in the following mixed case:

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

Label

Tasting Notes

Lead and graphite are complimented by notes of blueberries and blackberries. Blackcurrants, too. Full-bodied and focused with very round and polished tannins. Elegance with power. Very classic nature for Lafite. Try in 2022.

99
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2018

A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot, the 2015 Lafite Rothschild has a medium to deep garnet color. It is a little subdued and broody to begin, soon unfurling to offer notes of kirsch, ripe blackberries, and blackcurrant pastilles, plus hints of damp soil, bay leaves, black truffles, and iron ore. The light-bodied palate is fantastically light on its feet, delivering a racy line of freshness to the delicate black fruit and earthy layers, supported by finely pixilated tannins, finishing long and savory.

95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, November 2022

Tasted blind. Slightly weak greyish crimson. Black fruits on the nose and then high acid on the palate. A little low key. Fresh and linear. A refreshing drink in which the tannins are well managed. Slight graininess of texture. Introvert.
Drink 2025-2050

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2019

The grand vin 2015 Lafite-Rothschild checks in as 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot that was brought all in 100% new oak. Director Eric Kohler (who replaced Charles Chevallier in 2015) told me the vintage suffered a touch of dilution but wasn’t a complicated year. The 2015 is an aristocratic, classy example from this estate that offers textbook lead pencil shavings, tobacco, smoked herbs, and graphite as well as a beautiful core of currant and cassis fruit. It’s the most refined and subtle of the first growths, has medium to full-bodied richness, building tannin, and undeniable class and charm. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades. 2023 - 2053

96
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, November 2017

Woodland violets fragrance the nose has charm the start of the palate is fresh. There is depth of fruit in the middle rich flavours velvet smoothness suppleness the fruit underpinned by fine tannins. Under the rich mix of cassis and black cherry bilberry refreshes and lightens the back palate is lifted fragrant ethereal and long.

96/98
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2016

A wine that has divided opinions in 2015. What some people see as greenness, I regard as freshness and balance. This is elegant and harmonious, but doesn’t lack stuffing, carrying its 100% new oak with ease. Graphite, blackcurrant and cedar wood are underpinned by chalky minerality. Drink: 2022-30

98
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2016

With much more power and intensity than the second wine, Carruades, and an awful lot more Cabernet in the blend this is a darker, swarthier, more pagan Lafite with stunning purity and lift and remarkably forward fruit. The slender chassis seems to be more upholstered than the alcohol suggests meaning that this wine will evolve very slowly over a very long time. While not a bombastic style, this is a scintillatingly attractive Lafite, with a slightly wild side hinting at more drama to come in time.

18.5+
Matthew Jukes, Matthew Jukes' Blog, April 2016
Read more tasting notes...

The 2015 Lafite-Rothschild is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot picked between 17 September and 6 October. Matured in 100% new oak, it has a tightly-wound bouquet with black cherries, cassis, cedar and graphite, though it does not quite possess the depth one would have expected the vintage would have bestowed. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, harmonious on the entry and with the oak neatly integrated. There is a very fine grip towards the finish, which has a tangible spicy edge - white pepper with a touch of bay leaf and enough pencil lead to fill a stationery set. The aftertaste is extremely long here, more than a minute when I timed it on my watch. It is an excellent Lafite-Rothschild in the making and it often "finds its voice" only after bottling, so it could ultimately end with a higher score. Drink 2028-2060

94/96
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (224), April 2016

Here is a Lafite with lots of muscle and tone. Very tannic and velvety textured. Full body, fresh acidity and a bright finish. Shows a tenderness at the end. Gorgeous.

97/98
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2016

The deep garnet-purple shaded 2015 Lafite Rothschild is blended of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot and was matured for 20 months in new oak barrels from Tonnellerie des Domaines (their own cooperage). It is still sporting a lot of cedar at this nascent stage with a vibrant core of black raspberries, red currants and crushed plums plus touches of cigar boxes, violets and underbrush with a waft of tilled loam. Medium-bodied and elegantly styled with wonderful freshness and depth, it is compellingly earthy/minerally in the mouth with a frame of seductively silky yet very firm tannins and culminating in a very long, racy and pure finish. Boasting spectacular finesse and packed with nuances, clearly, given some of the challenges here in 2015, this is a masterpiece of diligence in the vineyards, careful selection and very clever crafting—bravo! 2024 - 2045

96+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim Fe), February 2018

Lustrous mid crimson. Lightly spicy nose and very smooth tannins in the Lafite style. Only just enough acidity. Blurry impression. Mild and charming - very restrained and Lafite. It builds on the end in an impressive manner.
Drink 2024-2040

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2016
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.