CHATEAU LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD 1er Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 2004 Bottle
Red Still Wine | France | Bordeaux | Pauillac | 75cl
£695.00 / £4,170.00 case
ABV: 12.5%
Size: 75cl
Closure Type: Cork
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-Region: Pauillac
Wine Style: Full Bodied
Description
The 2004 Château Lafite-Rothschild is an exceptional wine that has received high praise, featuring prominently in numerous reviews. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 96 points, highlighting its powerful presence, velvety mouthfeel, and ripe fruit flavours of black plums and dark figs, complemented by fresh acidity. The Wine Advocate noted 95 points, describing its sensual bouquet of blackberry, graphite, and cedar, with silky tannins and a regal structure. Vinous scored it 93 points, focusing on its aromatic profile of plum, mocha, and cedar, while Decanter also awarded 93 points, emphasising its classic claret characteristics with blackcurrant fruit and supple texture. Jancis Robinson noted its herbaceous freshness and fine tannins, showcasing a long, gentle persistence, making this vintage a superb choice for collectors.
*****
WINE ENTHUSIAST 96 points
Yes, there is power to this wine. But more than that, it exudes authority; a dense and solid wine with an impressive presence and texture. It has a velvet mouthfeel: the tannins are dusty and mineral, alongside fruit flavors of ripe black plums and dark figs, leavened with fresh acidity. The potential, of course, is there: 20 years if you can wait. — Roger Voss
THE WINE ADVOCATE 95 points
Drink Date: 2020 - 2050
The 2004 Lafite-Rothschild appears to be another late-bloomer in the sense that this 12-year-old bottle is the best I have tasted, implying an upward swing in quality. It has a wondrous bouquet, very sensual and pure with blackberry, graphite and cedar - all the hallmarks of Pauillac, delivered with great panache. It is more opulent than I recall. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, pitch-perfect acidity and a beautiful structure. There is a regal sense to this Lafite, understated compared to the other First Growths and yet the persistence on the finish deserves a round of applause, especially in the context of the vintage. This is superb and could possibly turn out to be the pick of the Firsts. Tasted September 2016.
VINOUS 93 points
Medium ruby-red. Scented nose offers plum, mocha, licorice, graphite, flowers and tobacco. Suave, silky and fine-grained, with lovely inner-mouth aromatic character and energy. Perfumed flavors of redcurrant, minerals and cedar. Finishes very long and firm, with terrific grip for this mostly gentle vintage. - Stephen Tanzer
DECANTER 93 points
Tasted by: Charles Curtis MW
(at Atlanta, 22 Mar 2024)
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2055
The 2004 Lafite is indisputably a classic claret with its blackcurrant fruit and hints of eucalyptus, cedar, leather and wood smoke. The texture is supple, elegant, and almost ethereal, and the combination impressed many of the tasters, although I took it down a peg for an apparent lack of concentration. The group rating, however, was just behind the Haut-Brion, and it is undeniable that this will be a long-lived wine and should age gracefully for decades to come.
JANCIS ROBINSON 18 points
Deep garnet. Marked and attractive herbaceous freshness on the nose. Even a touch of capsicum. Very little tertiary character showing. Similar on the palate, really quite cedary and herbaceous – not unripe but quite the opposite of super-ripe. But all this adds up to great freshness, tannins that are fine and dry, and a long, dry yet rather gentle persistence. (JH)
A Deeper Dive;
Château Lafite Rothschild
Château Lafite Rothschild's vineyard spans an impressive 112 hectares, featuring three main sections: the slopes around the Château, the Carruades plateau to the west, and a 4.5-hectare area located in the neighbouring township of Saint-Estèphe.
The soil composition is notable, comprising fine, deep gravel blended with windblown sand, situated atop well-drained and well-exposed tertiary limestone subsoil. The vineyard produces an array of grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. For the Grand Vin, only grapes from vines that are older than 10 years are selected, ensuring a high-quality output. Each vintage tells its own story, typically featuring a dominant portion of Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot and a hint of Petit Verdot.
After blending, the wine undergoes aging in new oak barrels for 15 months. Each barrel is tasted individually to guarantee that only the best choices are made for the final blend. Fermentation also plays a crucial role, occurring over a controlled period of 15 days at a temperature of 26°-27°C, allowing the wine to develop its unique character.
