2017 Lafite Rothschild
By Chateau Lafite Rothschild
2017 Lafite Rothschild from Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 2017 vintage in Bordeaux was one of contrasts, with a frost affecting many, but not so at the venerable Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Nestled within Pauillac, this château's resilience and diligent craftsmanship have drawn forth a 2017 Lafite Rothschild that is a testament to the estate’s illustrious reputation.
Artful Adaptation Amidst Adversity
The 2017 Lafite Rothschild is a display of masterful adaptation. The Pauillac region faced climatic challenges that year, which prompted a meticulous selection process and showcases the skilful hand of winemakers at Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Despite the hurdles, the wine boasts an elegant structure and aromatic finesse that savvy investors will find both intriguing and promising.
Elegant Complexity: A Marked Vintage
This particular vintage champions balance. With a blend primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, there rests a poised tension between power and elegance within the glass. The nose delivers bold black fruit aromas accompanied by the notable Pauillac graphite accent. On the palate, the 2017 Lafite Rothschild unfurls with layered complexity – cassis, plums and hints of earthy forest floor – laced with the silken tannins characteristic of this historic estate.
The finish dances with grace; it is long and satisfying, leaving echoes of spice and oak to linger in memory. This is a wine that stands proudly among its kin, asserting its place with subtle confidence.
A Consistent Collectible for Connoisseurs
For investors eyeing longevity and elegance, the 2017 Lafite Rothschild from Chateau Lafite Rothschild remains one of the more attractive propositions. While its vivacious youth is enthralling now, it bears the promise of evolution into an even more nuanced beauty with time. As such, it remains a regarded name for those looking to enrich their cellars with Bordeaux's manoeuvre through a challenging yet successful vintage.
In summary, the 2017 Lafite Rothschild encapsulates the essence of Pauillac resilience under pressure – proving itself to be an investment-worthy vintage that embodies both the strength and sophistication of its heralded lineage.
Current market price
$9,710.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
324.44
Scores and tasting notes
This is very tight and tannic with lots of blackcurrant and sweet-tobacco character. Firm and powerful tannin texture sets this up for a long and chewy finish, yet it remains very compact and polished. It's a wine that possesses all the hallmarks of Lafite — everything from flavors to structure.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com
Composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon with 3.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Lafite Rothschild is a little shy on the nose to begin, opening out to scents of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries and warm black plums with touches of yeast extract, charcuterie, cigar box and fertile loam plus a hint of iron ore. POW—the paradoxically ethereal, medium-bodied palate hits you with vibrant, exhilarating black fruit and previously latent floral layers, supported with fantastic freshness and super fine-grained, pixelated tannins, finishing with persistent mineral and perfumed layers. Truly. Stunning.
Wine Advocate - Lisa Perrotti-Brown - robertparker.com
Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Lafite Rothschild is deep garnet-purple colored. It opens slowly, cautiously with restrained notes of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries, warm blackcurrants and wild blueberries, followed by emerging notions of smoked meats, fragrant earth, crushed rocks and lilacs with touches of cast-iron pan and Marmite toast. Medium-bodied, the palate is deceptively light and quite ethereal on entry, growing in the mouth to reveal elegant layers of energetic red and black fruits with tons of savory accents. Framed by exquisitely ripe, wonderfully fine-grained tannins, it has exhilarating freshness and a very long, hypnotically perfumed finish. On a final note, the alcohol here is a jaw-dropping 12.5%, which is something of a miracle considering the ripeness of the Cabernet. A total head-turner, I cannot wait to follow the development of this wine!
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 16 March 2020
The 2017 Lafite-Rothschild is gorgeous. Silky, nuanced and polished, the 2017 captures all the finesse that makes Lafite such a vaunted property. Even in this unusual vintage, Lafite retains its super classic flavor profile, shape and personality. And that is one of the signatures of truly great sites. Like many of his colleagues, Technical Director Eric Kolher opted for gentle extractions and incorporated a relatively high amount of press wine (16%) into the blend. Those are merely details, though, because the 2017 Lafite is stellar. It also has the potential to be the most complete of the First Growths.
Antonio Galloni - Antonio Galloni - vinous.com - May '18
The 2017 Lafite-Rothschild had been blended in mid-March, a couple of weeks prior to my visit, therefore it was important to let this settle and aerate. Moreover, I returned on my final day in Bordeaux mid-April for a second reading. It feels very aloof at first, even a little green, although that ebbs away with time in the glass to reveal pure blackberry and bilberry fruit, touches of brine, cedar and graphite. Patience discloses a really quite sublime array of aromas. The palate is where all the action is: filigree tannin, very well judged acidity, harmonious and poised with a silky smooth finish that glides across the mouth. It does not possess enormous length but it is very precise and, for want of a better, less clichéd word, classic from start to finish. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
Neal Martin - Neal Martin - vinous.com - May '18