Carruades de Lafite 2010

Another brilliant second wine, the 2010 Carruades de Lafite (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot) is elegant and amazing for a second wine from Lafite. "Carruades de Lafite" is now engraved in the bottle to prevent unscrupulous sommeliers and merchants from trying to pass it off as Lafite Rothschild. The wine displays much of the same lead pencil, charcoal and black currant notes of its bigger sister, although it is forward, precocious and far less structured than the grand vin. Nevertheless, this wine, which can be drunk now, will cellar beautifully for at least 20-25 more years.

The Carruades is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.5% Merlot, 2.4% Petit Verdot and 5.1% Cabernet Franc. It has a well-defined bouquet, blackberry, graphite, sous-bois and pleasant floral notes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a juicy core of ebullient black cherry fruit and trademark graphite notes towards the long, persistent finish. This is certainly a very high quality Carruades. Tasted November 2012.

This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone. Try in 2016.

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Carruades de Lafite charges out of the gate with bold scents of baked plums and boysenberries followed by hints of menthol, tobacco leaf, cloves and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers a well-poised frame of ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness supporting the savory flavors, finishing with a spicy kick. 2020 - 2040

17.5 Drink 2018-2030
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Mid crimson without great colour intensity. Very savoury and glossy. Immediate polish on the nose here. Raspberries and tar. Great intensity and fluidity. Really this is SO much better than it used to be. Very fine wine by any measure. Bone dry. Minerals and chew on the end but no rustic tannins. Very fine and long. It is admirable that Charles Chevalier puts so much effort into this wine which, although admittedly it is expensive, could be sold several times over in China whatever it tasted like.

The Second wine of Chateau Lafite. Thanks to the fact that the label design is very similar to that of Lafite itself, demand for Carruades from China has rocketed in the past few years with the result that the market price of any physical vintage is now £300+ per bottle. This wine contains all the Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and most of the Merlot from the Lafite vineyard in 2010. The assemblage is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.5% Merlot, 5.1% Cabernet Franc, 2.4% Petit Verdot. Lovely perfumed, exotic nose of ripe red berry fruits and an almost lavender-like scent. Deliously soft, supple and plush with velvety ripeness and medium weight. Creamy and ripe. Should go down smoothly with the Peking Duck!

There is a lovely sweetness on the nose with a mix of mainly black fruits. The palate starts with richness a fleshy depth but behind the sweet fruit and rounded tannins is the freshness of red cherry that gives an attractive brightness but lighter feel to the finish.

Fine fragrance and elegance over layers of complexity, perfect harmony, Pauillac at its most refined. Drink 2016-26.