Carruades de Lafite 2009

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Of course, the wine to buy in order to get a look at the Lafite Rothschild style and personality is their second wine, Carruades de Lafite, which has become very fashionable in Asia, causing the prices to soar. A very strong effort, the 2009 Carruades de Lafite may be the finest Carruades since the 2003. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and tiny amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it reveals lots of sweet cassis intermixed with subtle smoke and forest floor, undeniable lusciousness and full-bodied hedonism. The wood component is pushed to the background, and the wine is extremely viscous, round and delicious. Additional complexity should continue to emerge over the next decade and this 2009 should keep for 20-30 years.

robert_parker91

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A blend of 50.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.4% Merlot, 2.2% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the Carruades has a refined, very well delineated bouquet of blackberry, a touch of plum, Mirabelle, cedar and smoke. The palate is medium-bodied, fine tannins, smooth and sensuous, not a powerful Carruades, more approachable than previous vintages, the tannins a little softer and smoother. Good length. Very fine…but it does not exceed expectations. Tasted March 2010.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The best Carruades de Lafite I have ever tasted is the 2009. Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, 55% of the crop was included in this second wine. It is an atypically powerful Carruades with slightly higher alcohol than usual as well as considerable structure. There are plenty of creme de cassis and crushed rock notes as well as a subtle wood component, and super intensity and lushness. It is an amazing effort! For technocrats, Lafite began its harvest on September 23 and finished on October 8. (Tasted once.)

robert_parker89

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The Carruades de Lafite has a deep garnet/purple hue. It is more approachable than the Grand Vin, with scents of blackberry, tar, graphite and a touch of ink. The palate has quite stemmy and foursquare, not a complex Carruades and I feel just a little short on the finish. I much prefer the Duhart this year. Tasted November 2011.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This is a great performance for a Second wine that, let us be honest, 15 years ago was looked down upon and sold cheaply. Here, the 2009 has a very ripe bouquet with breezy dark black plum and boysenberry fruit mingling with orange rind, a touch of bacon fat and even a hint of mango sorbet. The palate is full-bodied with succulent, grippy tannins. There is great weight and volume to this wine, although the acidity keeps everything in check. Smooth and harmonious, turning chalkier in texture towards the finish, this is a complex 2009 Pauillac that should age well. Tasted January 2013.

vinous89

Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata

(a blend of 51% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 13.5% alcohol; 55% of the total crop) Bright ruby-red. Delicious fruit-forward nose is remarkably charming in its strawberry, blackcurrant and smoky plum aromas. Then fresh and juicy on the palate, with flavors similar to the aromas and hints of flint and black pepper on the long, fruity, mineral-tinged finish. A charming Carruades that should offer immense drinking appeal during the first six to eight years of its life in bottle. Carruades is made from young vines on a north-exposed parcel close to the main chateau building, and from some younger, high-quality vines in the heart of the Lafite vineyard. While these latter centrally located vines are currently too young to be used for the grand vin, says Chevallier, they have greatness written all over them. And when the grapes are as fully ripe as they were in '09, Carruades is a really lovely wine.

vinous89

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Bright ruby-red. Open-knit, fruity nose offers plenty of charm to its strawberry, blackcurrant and floral aromas. Fresh and juicy on the palate, with red cherry and fresh blackcurrant flavors complicated by flinty and floral nuances. This easygoing, fragrant Carruades is hard to resist drinking up right now.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Of course, the wine to buy in order to get a look at the Lafite Rothschild style and personality is their second wine, Carruades de Lafite, which has become very fashionable in Asia, causing the prices to soar. A very strong effort, the 2009 Carruades de Lafite may be the finest Carruades since the 2003. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and tiny amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it reveals lots of sweet cassis intermixed with subtle smoke and forest floor, undeniable lusciousness and full-bodied hedonism. The wood component is pushed to the background, and the wine is extremely viscous, round and delicious. Additional complexity should continue to emerge over the next decade and this 2009 should keep for 20-30 years.