2019 Château Lafite Rothschild Carruades de Lafite Magnum

The 2019 Carruades de Lafite Magnum from Château Lafite Rothschild offers a luxurious introduction to one of Bordeaux’s most revered estates, captured in an age-worthy 1.5L format. As the second wine of Lafite, it mirrors the finesse and precision of the Grand Vin, while expressing its own personality through a higher proportion of Merlot and specific plots on the historic Carruades Plateau. This vintage comes from one of Bordeaux’s standout years and delivers a wine that balances immediate charm with remarkable long-term potential.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Carruades de Lafite shows a dark, deep, and vibrant ruby colour, with a glossy, youthful rim that hints at its long life ahead. The nose is classic Pauillac in a particularly refined register: ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry interwoven with subtle notes of graphite, cedar, violet, and a touch of tobacco leaf. There is both ripeness and lift, a hallmark of the 2019 vintage, with fresh black fruit wrapped in a cool, mineral edge. On the palate, the attack is supple and straightforward at first, then the wine unfolds layer by layer, gaining in volume and complexity across the mid-palate. The blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc delivers finely etched tannins—silky in texture yet precise and persistent. Juicy cassis and dark plum are framed by hints of cocoa, pencil shavings and delicate spice, with the high proportion of Cabernet bringing tension, structure and a long, energetic finish. In magnum, this 2019 Carruades has excellent aging potential: it will begin to show its full harmony after around 6–8 years from vintage and can continue to evolve gracefully for 15 years or more, especially in this larger format.

Production
Carruades de Lafite is sourced from parcels adjacent to the famed hilltop vineyards of Château Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac, on deep gravel soils over limestone and clay that provide exceptional drainage and impart a distinctive, graphite-tinged elegance to the wines. The Carruades Plateau, acquired in 1845, lends its name and character to this cuvée, with Merlot playing a more prominent role than in the Grand Vin, adding plushness and approachability. The 2019 growing season was marked by a mild, dry winter, a cool, uneven spring with irregular flowering and lower yields, followed by a hot early summer, timely July rainfall to trigger véraison, and then a dry, stable late summer leading into a calm harvest under ideal conditions. Grapes are harvested parcel by parcel at optimal ripeness, carefully sorted, and vinified traditionally in temperature-controlled vats. The wine is then matured in French oak barriques (with a proportion of new oak, as is typical for the estate), allowing the structure to refine and the aromatics to knit together while preserving the purity of fruit and the signature Lafite finesse.

Food & Serving
This 2019 Carruades de Lafite Magnum is an exceptionally versatile partner for refined cuisine, particularly classic dishes that flatter its Cabernet backbone and Pauillac character. Think roasted rack of lamb with rosemary, slow-cooked beef short rib, tournedos Rossini, or game birds such as pigeon or duck with a red wine reduction. It also pairs beautifully with hard cheeses like Comté, aged Gouda, or mature cheddar. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight both freshness and depth. Given the wine’s youth and structure, decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended in its early years to allow the bouquet to open and the tannins to soften; as it ages, a shorter decant to remove sediment and gently awaken the aromatics will suffice.

Producer
Château Lafite Rothschild is one of the most illustrious names in the world of wine, a First Growth of the 1855 Bordeaux Classification and a benchmark for Cabernet-based Pauillac. Its history stretches back centuries, with Lafite’s vineyards already recognized for their quality in the 17th century and firmly established as a reference for fine claret by the time it came under the ownership of the Rothschild family in the 19th century. Within Bordeaux, Lafite is renowned for its distinctive style: wines of great elegance, purity, and longevity rather than sheer power. Carruades de Lafite, the château’s second wine, was created to reflect the estate’s rigorous selection, giving wine lovers access to Lafite’s terroir and savoir-faire in a more approachable expression. Today, the estate is celebrated not only for the Grand Vin but also for the consistent quality and refinement of Carruades, which has become one of the most sought-after second wines in Bordeaux.

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