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Carruades de Lafite 2023

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon

The second wine of Château Lafite.

In 2023 most of Lafite's Merlot went into Carruades and the final blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Lafite Rothschild

Label

Tasting Notes

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the 2023 Carruades de Lafite is lovely, bursting with aromas of minty blackberries, cassis and cigar box, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered palate that's creamy and textural, its generous core of fruit largely concealing its powdery structuring tannins, concluding with a long, resonant finish.

91/93
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2024

The 2023 Carruades de Lafite is notable for some of the Cabernet being picked prior to the Merlot, between September 7 and 29. This year, there is no Cabernet Franc or Petit Verdot in the blend. It has a far superior bouquet to some of the vintages I was tasting a decade or so ago—much more purity and precision, with notes of black plum, wild strawberry and a touch of cassis. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky texture and a crisp line of acidity. It’s fresh, precise and saline, with a long tail on the finish. This is surely one of the best Carruades I have tasted at this stage.

91/93
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2024

Mid ruby colour. This has a nose lined with camphor, coriander seed and blackcurrant leaf - it is one of the few wines that has a green, herbal edge this year. The palate follows in this vein, with blackcurrant leaf, peppermint and coriander leaf. Fresh plums and firm red cherries form the fruit core with light, dusty tannins and zesty acids. This will be best in its youth.

88/90
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, April 2024

A savory and juicy Carruades with softness and notes of ripe berry, cedar and dried tobacco. Like Lafite from the 1980s but more precise. Round and pretty. It really grows on the finish with such sweetness of fruit and length. Pointed, fine tannins at the end. Very long. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot.

95/96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2024

The 2023 Carruades de Lafite is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, a beautiful perfume of rose oil and lavender is released, opening out to a classic core of cassis, fresh plums, and pencil lead with a touch of red, iron-rich soil. The light to medium-bodied palate is delicately styled, with compelling vibrancy and nice, ripe, fine-grained tannins supporting the black fruits, finishing long and fragrant. This is very pretty! The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, with pH 3.70. The alcohol is 13.2%.

92/94
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, April 2024

Medium intensity ruby, fairly austere right now, structured, with the same mint leaf and ink quality as Lafite. The sweet brambled black fruits only come in through the mid palate, this is well paced, unrolls slowly, a serious and concentrated Carruades that has its eye on the future. 12% pres wine, harvest September 7 to 29, unusually only using Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2024

The 2023 Carruades de Lafite is a very pretty, sensual wine that very much captures the personality of the Grand Vin, naturally in a more approachable style. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, with no Franc or Petit Verdot. I have to say, there is something very direct about the 2023—something frank that is really evident. I admire its purity. Succulent red plum, spice, cedar, tobacco and a lifting touch of white pepper open first, while beautifully persistent saline undertones extend the finish.

92/94
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2024

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. 44 hl/ha. Cask sample.
Crunchy, gourmand fruit allied to a suave, velvety texture. Dense and well structured with a certain tension on the finish. (JL) 13%
Drink 2030 – 2042

17
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2024
Read more tasting notes...

Medium intensity ruby, fairly austere right now, structured, with the same mint leaf and ink quality as Lafite. The sweet brambled black fruits only come in through the mid palate, this is well paced, unrolls slowly, a serious and concentrated Carruades that has its eye on the future. 12% pres wine, harvest September 7 to 29, unusually only using Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2024
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.