2016 - Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac

Classically trained and expressed Lafite, layers upon layers of crayon, slate, graphite, cigar box, grilled earth, campfire, raspberry, cassis, redcurrant, this is making adjectives pour fourth, and you'll be very very happy if you get hold a bottle of this. Brilliant, a glorious Lafite that can easily go for decades. 100% new oak, Eric Kohler technical director.

The 2016 Lafite Rothschild is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, with 15% of the press wine contributing to the blend this year. Deep purple-black in color, it slowly reveals the most gorgeous perfume of kirsch, lilacs, black raspberries and warm blackcurrants with underlying nuances of cigar box, rose hip tea, cloves, licorice and pencil lead plus a waft of garrigue. Medium-bodied and built like a brick house with a firm yet beautifully ripe, finely pixelated tannic backbone and seamless freshness supporting the amazing intensity of black fruits and floral layers, it finishes very long and provocatively perfumed.

The 2016 Lafite-Rothschild has a very perfumed bouquet with violet-infused black fruit, cedar and sous-bois, very precise and focused. The palate is precise and framed by extraordinarily fine tannins; not powerful, yet the intensity is amazing. Brilliant mineralité towards the finish that fans out beautifully. Wow. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

The 2016 Lafite-Rothschild has a very perfumed bouquet with violet-infused black fruit, cedar and sous-bois, very precise and focused. The palate is precise and framed by extraordinarily fine tannins; not powerful, yet the intensity is amazing. Brilliant mineralité towards the finish that fans out beautifully. Wow. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

The 2016 Lafite-Rothschild has a straight-down-the-line classic Pauillac bouquet with ebullient black fruit, graphite and sous-bois scents, the most classical of the First Growths. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Lovely balance, gentle gr

The 2016 Lafite-Rothschild has a very perfumed bouquet with violet-infused black fruit, cedar and sous-bois, very precise and focused. The palate is precise and framed by extraordinarily fine tannins; not powerful, yet the intensity is amazing. Brilliant

A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2016 Lafite Rothschild is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of swirling and shaking to unlock notes of redcurrant jelly, wild blueberries, and cassis, followed by suggestions of tar, licorice, crushed rocks, forest floor, and black truffles, plus an emerging waft of lilacs. Medium-bodied, the palate is taut with muscular black fruits and mineral layers, supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with loads of earthy sparks. Needs a lot of time!

Tasted blind. Blackish crimson. Pretty broad and full-on in its appeal. Sweet and seductive with a medicinal note. Some heat on the end. The finish is not quite as complete as some of its peers. Slight char. (JR)

Tasted blind. Blackish crimson. Pretty broad and full-on in its appeal. Sweet and seductive with a medicinal note. Some heat on the end. The finish is not quite as complete as some of its peers. Slight char. (JR)