Carruades de Lafite - Pauillac 2020

Vinous

91-91

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2020 Carruades de Lafite bears the cassis signature that connotes Pauillac, here delivered with impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent, ripe tannins, layered black fruit, bay leaf and white pepper. It just doesn't quite kick on toward the finish as expected, but I observed that before it was revealed as a Deuxième Vin. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Wine Advocate

91

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2020 Carruades de Lafite offers up aromas of dark berries, cassis, cigar wrapper, violets and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, it's a rich, gourmand wine, some 20% of which was matured in tank.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

This Château has made truly legendary wines in 2020. Looking at the vintage, the harvest occurred all in September, and their second wine, the 2020 Carruades De Lafite, is based on 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was raised in 90% new French oak. The alcohol hit 13% and the pH is 3.84. It's much more open and expressive than the Grand Vin and offers beautiful darker red and black fruits as well as leafy tobacco, cedar pencil, and spicy nuances. Medium-bodied, layered, and concentrated, it has the vintage's more structured, firm feel on the palate, rock-solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but will evolve for two decades.

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Carruades de Lafite is a very pretty wine that marries the aromatic presence of Cabernet Sauvignon and the plushness of Merlot that make up the principal part of this blend. Dried herbs, leather, earthiness, tobacco and cedar lend darkness and aromatic intensity to this brooding Pauillac. The 2020 is a powerhouse Carruades that needs a few years in bottle to find its finest balance.

Vinous

90

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Carruades de Lafite, matured in 25-30% new oak, has quite a dense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and faint licorice scents that surface with time. It has fine focus, though not immense intensity. The palate is well balanced with slightly angular tannins, somewhat furry in texture, quite saline with hints of black olive, neat 'n tidy towards the graphite-tinged finish. Probably more classic in style compared to the 2019. Enjoy over the next 12-15 years.

TASTED

93

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Pure and perfumed, fine toast and mocha with violet ripe black currant, sage and some butterscotch. Rather dense with an already rounded texture, melted tannin, with a fresh backbone, some herbal notes paired with digest dark fruit and a long supple finish.

Vinous

91-93

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Carruades de Lafite is so expressive right out of the gate. Sage, mint, dried herbs, tobacco and incense grace the Carruades with gorgeous aromatic presence. A backbone of fine tannins lends energy and direction. Medium in body and impeccably refined, the 2020 Carruades is shaping up to be a gem.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

A baby Lafite with its lead pencil and cassis aromatics as well as beautiful elegance, the 2020 Carruades De Lafite is medium-bodied and has a precise, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. As with all the wines from this incredible château, its balance and elegance are what set it apart, and it's one of the finest second wines out there. The blend is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which is a classic blend for this cuvée.

Vinous

89-91

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Carruades de Lafite is clean and precise on the nose, the undergrowth/autumn leaf scents permeating the predominantly black fruit, and light peppermint aromas unfurling with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Quite linear in style, particularly toward the finish, where it seems to not want to put a foot wrong. A Deuxième Vin that just needs to loosen its tie and let it all hang out a bit more.

Decanter.com

92

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

More Merlot than in 2019, but as you find repeatedly in 2020, the Cabernet Sauvignon plays an oversized role in the flavour profile. This has a ton of impact and intensity, coffee and black chocolate with angular tannins that will benefit from softening over ageing. Plenty of Pauillac signature here, with liquorice root and tobacco leaf. A slate texture gives definition to the end of play. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Flowers, cedar, tobacco, spice, exuberant black raspberries, kirsch and plums open the perfume. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and lifted on the nose and palate, this is good example of a baby Lafite in its youth. The finish is all about its silky elegance and purity of fruit. The wine is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. 93-95

Wine Advocate

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Carruades de Lafite, like its big sibling, is a little youthfully shy to begin, soon unfurling to offer notes of Morello cherries, raspberry leaves, baked blackberries and spice box, plus suggestions of pencil lead, lavender and Provence herbs. The medium-bodied palate is chock-full of juicy black fruits, framed by velvety tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and lifted. This 2020 is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

Anthocyanes

92-94

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Agréablement torréfié, un peu moka et café frais, graphite, fruits noirs et légèrement épices avec un léger nez de bourgeon de cassis. Bouche droite, tannique, milieu de bouche moyennement charpenté, assez ferme, de beaux tanins structurants, une allonge interminable avec une belle fraicheur mentholée en finale. Un Carruades 2020 très classique et tendu qui se révèlera avec le temps dans une garde longue.

Falstaff

93-95

byPeter Moserthe5/10/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegte Nuancen von Cassis und Lakritze, zart nach Edelholz, reife Kirschen, attraktives Bukett. Straff, engmaschig, saftig, rotbeerige Nuancen, min- eralisch-salziger Touch, gut integrierte, tragende Tannine, bleibt hafte, sehr gutes Reifepotenzial.

My Bettane + Desseauve

93-94

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

byJames Sucklingthe5/4/2021

This is very classically structured with a palate that starts off slowly. Full-bodied and chewy with a soft, creamy texture and a long finish. Savory. A touch austere. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 3% cabernet franc, the rest petit verdot.