Producer Profile
Area under vines: 112 hectares
Soils: fine deep gravel, mixed with aeolian sand on a subsoil of tertiary limestone
Average age of the vines: 38 years
Production: 15,000 to 20,000 cases a year
Ageing: 18 to 20 months in 100% new barrels
Grape varieties:
- Cabernet Sauvignon 80 to 95%
- Merlot 5 to 25%
- Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot 0 to 5%
Vintage 1961: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 1994: 99% Cabernet Sauvignon 1% Petit Verdot
Second wine: Carruades de Lafite
Average Annual Production: 20,000 to 30,000 Cases
Grape varieties:
- Cabernet Sauvignon 50-70%
- Merlot 30-50%
- Cabernet Franc 0-5%
Learn more about Château Lafite Rothschild here.
Tasting Notes
Vinous 96
The 1998 Lafite-Rothschild is served from double magnum directly from the chateau reserves, in fact with the man who made it sitting opposite me – Charles Chevalier. I must admit to being quite amazed how well this shows at 20-years of age, trouncing all the other First Growths except Haut-Brion. Lucid in colour, it has a vivid bouquet of pure blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and graphite, perhaps just a little uncharacteristically showy in style, but beautifully defined and intense. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe black fruit, perfectly pitched acidity and a silky smooth texture that renders this utterly seductive. It is almost too good for me to recommend cellaring longer. Whatever…it is a sublime Lafite-Rothschild that on this showing, may well challenge the supremacy of the 1996. Tasted at the Academie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux. [Neal Martin, 01/07/2018]
Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050
Robert Parker 96
"A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, the 1998 Lafite Rothschild is deep garnet with a hint of brick and gorgeous notions of sandalwood, creme de cassis, smoked meats, black pepper and garrigue with touches of chargrill, dried herbs and mincemeat pie. Medium-bodied, soft and plush on the palate, it has tons of mouth-filling savory and plum preserves flavors and a very long, savory finish. Delicious now, it should keep for 15-20 more years." [Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 31/05/2018]
Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038
JancisRobinson.com 18.0
The bluest of the three Pauillac firsts. The lightest of the three on the nose. You have to struggle a bit to find the bouquet at first but it really opened out in the glass. Pretty solid yet it soars away too. Rich and racy. Manages to be a bit of a racehorse. Very sinewy and glossy and polished. Just a hint of greenness. Still chewy on the finish. Very racy and elegant. [07/04/2008]
Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025
