Château Lafite-Rothschild 2010

Jeannie Cho Lee

VertdeVin

The nose is beautifully elegant, racy and offers power (full of control), a beautiful finesse of the grain (full of elegance and power), a certain delicacy and a multi-layer side. It reveals notes of quite ripe blackberry, wild cassis and small notes of small ripe wild fruits associated with fine touches of ioded gravels, cuben pepper, a racy minerality as well as discreet hints of mild tobacco, almond, nutmeg, fine hints of underwood, a subtle hint of truffle and a very discreet hint of graphite. The palate is elegant, beautifully built, ample, delicate and offers a beautiful freshness, tension, power, richness (full of elegance), distinction as well as subtility, power, gourmandize, a certain fine generosity, a discreet very fine grainy side (brings gourmandize), deepness and freshness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy wild blackberry, wild cassis and small notes of fresh/ripe raspberry associated with touches of small black fruits, blue plum as well as fine hints of bergamot, incense, a racy minerality, almond, caramelization, discreet hints of badian, clove and an imperceptible hint of underwood. Good length. Tannins are elegant, precise, racy and offers power (full of delicacy), a covering/unctuous side (but full of freshness), precision and a superb finesse of the grain. A very discreet hint of mushroom, hazelnut and cocoa on the persistence.

Wine Enthusiast

Almost black in color, this stunning wine is gorgeous, rich and dense. It's grand and powerful, with a strong sense of its own importance. The beautiful tannins and the fragrant black currant fruits are palpable. It's a great wine, with huge potential.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2010 Lafite Rothschild, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot (a 3% difference from the barrel sample shown two years ago), achieved relatively high alcohol of 13.32%, according to administrator Charles Chevalier. The wine is very impressive, not as fleshy, flamboyant and massive as the 2009, but nevertheless, a big, rich, full-throttle Lafite-Rothschild meant to age a half century or more. Deep purple, with notes of white chocolate, mocha, cedar and charcoal as well as hints of vanillin and creme de cassis, the wine is full-bodied yet has that ethereal lightness that makes it a Lafite. Rich, with good acidity, precision and freshness, this is a slightly zestier version of the 2009 as well as more restrained and structured than that particular vintage. It will need at least 10-12 years of cellaring and keep for 50+ years.