Carruades de Lafite Pauillac 2022 750ml
SKU: RDFR20220026
Carruades de Lafite Pauillac 2022 is the prestigious second wine of Château Lafite Rothschild, offering a more approachable expression of one of Bordeaux’s legendary estates while retaining its signature Pauillac precision. Awarded 96 points by James Suckling and 94 points by Decanter, it opens with inviting aromas of blackcurrant, plum, lavender, violet, tobacco and pencil shavings. The palate is medium to full-bodied, vibrant and silky, with refined powdery tannins, chalky minerality and impressive length. A beautifully focused vintage with excellent ageing potential.
James Suckling | JS 96
Published: Jan 13, 2025
Attractive, showing blackcurrants, lead pencil and flowers such as lavender and violets on the nose, as well as tobacco. Medium-bodied and juicy with firm and linear tannins that are rather endless. Impressive stones and chalkiness. Excellent length and crunchiness. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Drink in three or four years.
Decanter | D 94
Published: Apr 1, 2023
Drink: 2027-2041
Plums, blackcurrants, dark chocolate and perfumed aromas on the nose. Smooth and bright, silky, sharp, intense but so likeable, a shot of high acidity really sets the tone, this is zinging with energy, bite and power. It's a look at me wine with a strawberry and red cherry sweetness as well as herbal savouriness that hits the mid palate creating a mouthwatering juiciness and sense of structure. The power comes in after a few minutes, alongside minerality and wet stone touches to the fine but present tannins. Streamlined, focussed and confident. Cleverly constructed with lots to like, will age well and has lovely Pauillac touches. 64IPT. 3.75pH. Harvest 31 August to 24 September. 16% press. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
The Wine Advocate | RP 92
Published: Mar 7, 2025
Drink: 2025-2045
The 2022 Carruades de Lafite has turned out nicely in bottle, unwinding in the glass with a youthfully understated bouquet of raspberries, cherries and cedary pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, suave and velvety palate that's supple and lively, built around refined, powdery tannins.
Jancis Robinson | JR 16
Published: Jan 28, 2026
Drink: 2030-2045
Tasted blind. Smudgy crimson. Warm and sweet on the nose. Then the palate is quite crisp and tart. Still very embryonic and a tad loose. Jancis Robinson
lafite.com
Location
Pauillac is located on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, approximately 40km North of Bordeaux. With the tempering influence of the estuary and a great diversity of soils originated from both the Massif Central and the Pyrenees, Pauillac boasts exceptional climatic and geological conditions to make outstanding wines.
Terroir
Chateau Lafite Rothschild is located to the North of the Pauillac appellation, bordering Saint-Estèphe. The vineyard consists of three main areas : the hillsides around the Château, the adjacent Carruades plateau to the west, and 4.5 hectares in Saint Estèphe appellation. The vineyard covers 112 hectares with soil made up of fine deep gravel, mixed with aeolian sand on a subsoil of tertiary limestone. It is well-drained and benefits from optimal sun exposure.
Winemaking
Carruades de Lafite is made according to the traditional Bordeaux method. Alcoholic fermentation is conducted in wooden, concrete and stainless steel vats. Gentle pumping-over helps to ensure a soft extraction and is carried out according to the specific characteristics of each tank. Total maceration time lasts for about 20 days.
After malolactic fermentation, wines are transfered into French oak barrels made by the Tonnelleries des Domaines in Pauillac for a period of 16 months approximately.