1996 Château Lafite Rothschild

A late-ripening vintage with firm structure and long aging potential. Lafite’s deep gravels amplified minerality and finesse in this powerful year. A benchmark vintage from terroir and time.

While often overlooked due to the stellar 2005 vintage, the 2004 Bordeaux wines offer classic balance and finesse. With good fruit concentration, moderate tannins, and refreshing acidity, many are now entering their prime drinking window.

The estate's deep gravel soils naturally regulated water stress through July's intense heat and August's sustained drought. Cool nights and maritime influences allowed steady ripening across Lafite's historic plateau, particularly beneficial for the dominant Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine captures the vintage's natural concentration through layers of blackcurrant and cedar, while the grand vin's signature ethereal structure and gravelly mineral core remain precisely defined.

A cool, wet season led to lighter, aromatic wines. Lafite’s precision farming and terroir delivered an elegant, restrained wine. A vintage of finesse over force.

At Château Lafite Rothschild, the 2009 growing season began with a warm spring, followed by ideal summer conditions with perfectly timed rainfall. The extended dry and warm autumn allowed for optimal ripening of the Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in grapes with exceptional concentration and perfect phenolic ripeness. The harvest was conducted under ideal conditions, allowing the château to pick each parcel at its perfect maturity.

The château's prime position on Pauillac's plateau largely protected against April frost, particularly in the historic l'Enclos parcels. Summer brought measured warmth while maritime influences allowed steady ripening through early September. The wine shows Lafite's characteristic restraint and cedar-laced elegance, with pure Cabernet depth marking this challenging year.

The 2021 vintage from Chateau Lafite Rothschild showcases the estate's expertise in overcoming one of the most difficult growing seasons in recent memory. Severe spring frost in April significantly reduced yields, followed by an unusually cool and wet summer that increased disease pressure in the vineyards. The team's meticulous work, including extensive green harvesting and sorting, was crucial in ensuring quality. Despite these challenges, Lafite produced a wine of surprising finesse and aromatic complexity, reflecting both the unique character of this testing vintage and the enduring greatness of the terroir.