Château Lafite Rothschild 2019 is a superb expression of Pauillac, combining remarkable purity, elegance and depth with the structure for decades of ageing. Dominated by 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, it offers layers of cassis, blackberry and cherry alongside violets, cigar box, sweet tobacco and warm spices. The palate is seamless and refined, with velvety tannins, vibrant acidity and an exceptionally long, perfumed finish. A benchmark 2019 Bordeaux and a standout vintage for collectors.

The Wine Advocate | RP 100
Published: Apr 7, 2022
Drink: 2029-2065

One of the greatest wines produced in Bordeaux this year is the 2019 Lafite Rothschild, an impeccably balanced classic of immense charm and grace. Wafting from the glass with arresting aromas of cassis, blackberries and cherries mingled with violets, cigar box and warm spices, it'smedium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, its velvety attack segueing into a layered, concentrated mid-palate framed by exquisitely powdery tannins and ripe acids, and concluding with a long, perfumed finish. This rivals the 2010 and 2016 as the greatest Lafite of the decade, and of those three vintages, it'sclearly the most sensual and demonstrative out of the gates. The blend contains fully 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and attained a modest 13.4% alcohol. 

Today, Château Lafite Rothschild amounts to some 110 hectares planted to some 900,000 vines (including 4.5 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon in Saint-Estèphe). If that figure strikes readers as smaller than it used to be, that's because Lafite has ripped up some less optimally situated plots that never tended to produce wine fit for inclusion in the grand vin. As of 2021, what's more, organic conversion is underway (15 hectares are already farmed biodynamically), and hedges and flowering borders, planted with native species, now begin to break up the monoculture of the vine. Cover crops, too, have been added to the viticultural team's agronomic arsenal and are delivering good results in parcels with more humid or clay-rich soils. In the winery, Lafite is meticulously traditional: the grapes are sorted twice, once optically, and see a classical maceration in wooden and cement tanks with pump-overs and some use of the gentle "air pulse" system that disrupts the cap and oxygenates the ferment without the need for a full pump-over. Malolactic fermentation, as ever, is in tank, and the wine matures in barrels that are mostly produced in-house, with a light toast and favoring the forests of Allier and Nevers. Each vintage is racked three times, traditionally, with one egg white fining (which requires up to 8,000 eggs). As is the case almost everywhere in the Médoc, the tendency is for less and less Merlot in the assemblage. Eric Kohler describes 2019 as the ideal growing season, which saw a hydric deficit at just the right moment to precipitate ripening; and the result is a wine of irreproachable classicism and elegance. Whether the 2010, 2016 or 2019 Lafite ultimately emerges as the best of the decade is a question that well-heeled wine lovers will have immense pleasure debating over the decades to come, but it is clear that 2019 is the most sensual and aromatically expressive at an early age. It's one of the wines of the vintage.

James Suckling | JS 100
Published: Dec 5, 2022

So much sweet tobacco, Spanish cedar, dried flowers, dark mushrooms and roses. Really aromatic. This is so polished and very powerful, yet ethereal and refined at the same time. The finish goes on for minutes. Tight and harmonious. You want to drink it! So balanced, yet it will age beautifully. It will be this good forever. 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Better after 2031.

Jancis Robinson | JR 18.5
Published: Jul 6, 2023
Drink: 2025-2042

Full bottle 1,293 g – light!
Tasted blind. Paler than most with mid evolution. Very discreet aroma – hidden depths or subtlety? This could certainly be Lafite with its relatively light body and saline, dancing finish. Very elegant. Subtle. The epitome of raciness! Much the best wine in this blind line-up of top Cabs with top Chinese. Jancis Robinson 

lafite.com

The vintage
The vintage began well with a mild, dry winter. The fine weather continued into the beginning of spring, resulting in an early bud break.
In April and May, colder and above all drier-than-usual weather slowed the vines’ growth, and they quickly lost their early start. The first flowers appeared on our vines in Pauillac on 28 May. This key stage of the cycle was somewhat capricious with rainy spells in the second half of the flowering period leading to some coulure (flower abortion) and millerandage (mixed size berries).
After a relatively cold, rainy start, June suddenly changed, bringing an early summer heat wave the likes of which had not been seen since 2003. Fortunately, it was short-lived and the vines, which were catching up, seemed better equipped than in previous years to cope with the heat.
Miraculously, some rain arrived on 26 July: 45 millimetres fell in Pauillac, perfect for triggering the véraison when the grapes change colour and start to ripen.
Temperatures in August remained very mild, with no temperature spikes and a few scattered showers, creating a threat of botrytis, but the drier weather at the end of the month, which continued into mid-September, allowed us to start the harvests without any worries.

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
For Lafite's terroir to produce its magic, the vinification process must be carried out with extreme precision. The distribution of the grapes between wooden, stainless steel and concrete vats is determined on the basis of the characteristics of each plot and the grapes’ degree of maturity. Alcoholic fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature with regular pumping over to gently extract all the phenolic compounds. The maceration period is around 22 days. After malolactic fermentation, the wines are transferred to French oak barrels. Lafite has its own cooperage in Pauillac, the Tonnellerie des Domaines, a factor that contributes to its unique style. Every barrel is tasted and only the best are selected for the final blend. The wine is then aged in new oak barrels for 15 months.

Grapes
94 % Cabernet sauvignon
5 % Merlot
1 % Petit verdot

Tasting
A wine with an intense dark colour. The nose is characterized by freshness, combining depth and complexity. All the aromatic markers of a future great Lafite in its youth are there. On the palate, the attack is delicate, gradually increasing in power. The wine quickly develops volume, completely filling the mouth, but without ever being aggressive. 2019 is one of those years in which the Lafite terroir has demonstrated its capacity to produce opulent, silky wines with a well-balanced finish. A strikingly harmonious Lafite that is already accessible, but of course well-equipped to continue ageing for many more years. It will undoubtedly be superb in 10 to 15 years but, like the greatest vintages, will continue for much longer and still be enjoyable in 2050 and beyond.