The 2011 Château Lafite Rothschild is a refined and classically styled vintage that showcases the estate’s hallmark elegance and finesse. Composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, it reflects a challenging growing season that included a hailstorm just before harvest. Despite this, the wine exhibits excellent balance, with sweet tobacco, cedar, and blackberry notes on the nose, and a subtle, juicy palate framed by smooth tannins. The structure is delicate yet persistent, with savory black fruits, cedar spice, and a hint of oyster shell minerality. Though not as powerful as the great vintages, it’s graceful, layered, and maturing beautifully into its complexity. Best from 2024 through the mid-2040s.

Decanter | D 95
Published: Bordeaux 2011
Drink: 2024-2045

Developing into classical Lafite - meaning the frame comes from fine tannins, and the overall impression is of subtle complexity, still extremely young but with energy and lift. A gentle cedar smoke and liquorice edging becomes clear as it opens up, and the black fruits are savoury. The St-Estephe plot was hailed on in early September, but the fruit was already relatively ripe, so even though they harvested 15 days earlier than ideal, it was ripe enough to use in the Grand Vin, and the overall yield was 52hl/ha. Higher Merlot in the blend than you would find today (now closer to 10%).
Closure: Natural Cork
Alcohol: 12.50%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Merlot

Jamessuckling.com | JS 94
Published: Feb 19, 2014

Love the nose on this, with sweet tobacco, delicate currant, cedar and blackberry. Full body with integrated tannins and a juicy, fruity, subtle finish. The texture to this wine is beautiful. Better than I remember from barrel. Try in 2019.

The Wine Advocate | RP 90-93
Published: Apr 26, 2012

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot (harvested between September 3-21), the 2011 Lafite Rothschild came in at 12.6% natural alcohol (considerably lower than in 2010 and 2009). Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple color, lots of crushed rock, red and black currant, forest floor and underbrush characteristics, moderate tannin and medium body, it is built somewhat along the lines of the 1999 and 2001. It should be a 20- to 25-year wine, but it is not at the level of the 2008, 2009 and 2010. Fresh acids give the wine a somewhat more clipped feeling than most great Lafit'shave exhibited. Nevertheless, there is a lot of freshness and vibrancy to this vintage. 

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17.5
Published: Oct 21, 2021
Drink: 2020-2033

Tasted blind. Shaded crimson. Quite a light nose considering the likely price of this. Smooth tannins and lots of sweetness. Good balance. Non pushy. But no problem with excess tannin or acidity. Rather sweet and gentle with light oyster shells on the finish. Admirably restrained. 

lafite.com

2011 vintage
The weather conditions for the 2011 vintage were unusual and required all of our technical teams' vigilance and expertise.
This was a very early vintage, with an exceptionally hot spring, low rainfall at the beginning of the year, but then more in the summer, and a persistent threat of powdery mildew (a vine disease that is usually quite rare in the Bordeaux region).
Finally, just as we were getting ready to harvest, a huge hail storm in the north of Pauillac and Saint Estèphe on 1 September obliged us to reorganize the schedules. The plots that had been affected had to be picked first; fortunately, as a result of the conditions, the grapes had ripened early, and quality was not compromised.

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 appellation, bordering Saint Estèphe. Lafite's best terroirs stretch on the 50ha Plateau des Carruades to the west of the Château. This plateau, which is the highest point of the Pauillac appellation, is well-drained and enjoys optimal sun exposure. Its clayey gravel soils offer excellent water regulating abilities, and provide optimal ripening conditions for the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Some 4.5 ha planted in the neighbouring Saint Estephe appellation, count amongst the oldest vines of the property and provide year after year grapes of outstanding quality for the Grand Vin.

Winemaking
In order to reveal the magic of Lafite’s terroir, every step of the wine elaboration is carried out with the greatest precision. Depending of their provenance and level of ripeness, grapes will be transferred into either wooden, stainless steel or concrete vats. Alcoholic fermentation is conducted at controlled temperature, with regular pumping over to gently release all the phenolic compounds in the grapes. Each vat is carefully monitored and tasted daily in order to determine the best racking time. The maceration period variesfor each tank but is around 20 days in total.
After malolactic fermentation wines are transferred into French oak barrels. Lafite has its own cooperage in Pauillac, la Tonnellerie des Domaines, which contributes to its unique style. The selection for the grand vin is made in March, once the wines have settled and start revealing their full potential. Every barrel is tasted individually and only the best ones are set aside for the final blend.
Once blended, the wine is aged for a further 20 months in barrels, primarily of new oak.

Grapes
80 % Cabernet sauvignon
20 % Merlot

Tasting
Intense, deep crimson colour.
Dense nose, aromas of red and black fruit, boxwood and spicy notes.
Very dense on the palate with fine intensity.
Very complex finish.