Carruades de Lafite - Pauillac 2022

Alexandre Ma

93

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

The 2022 vintage of Carruades de Lafite makes it clear why it is revered as a “hard currency” in China. Its quality ranks effortlessly alongside the world’s most prestigious estates. Beneath its silky, tender texture lies a symphony of layered aromas—spicy notes of cinnamon and amomum beautifully enhance the radiance of its already fresh and luscious cherry fruit. The delicate palate that runs through the wine makes the tannins almost invisible; even after tasting it seven times consecutively, I found no trace of astringency.

Wine Advocate

92

byWilliam Kelleythe3/7/2025

The 2022 Carruades de Lafite has turned out nicely in bottle, unwinding in the glass with a youthfully understated bouquet of raspberries, cherries and cedary pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, suave and velvety palate that's supple and lively, built around refined, powdery tannins.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Easily one of the best 2nd wines of the vintage, maintains tension and lift through the palate, showing well placed, reserved cassis, blueberry, cocoa bean, espresso and sea spray salinity on the finish. Eric Kohler technical director.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The 2022 Carruades De Lafite is beautifully balanced and has that classic Lafite elegance in its aromatics and overall mouthfeel. Sweet cassis, violets, spring flowers, and cedar notes all emerge on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied, has a balanced, elegant texture, and beautifully integrated tannins. As with the Grand Vin, it brings ample richness and depth while holding onto a beautiful sense of freshness. Drink this brilliant second wine over the coming two decades.

Yvesbeck.wine

95

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot L'élégance du bouquet en dit long sur les ambitions des Carruades avec une belle symbiose entre des notes de baies rouges et noires complétées par de fines nuances boisées et épicées. Friand en attaque, le vin se révèle avec délicatesse, pas à pas. Il semble presque timide au départ avant de dévoiler une structure digne d'un athlète spécialisé dans le marathon ! Les tannins sont fins et puissants. Ils ne sont pas vraiment charnus, mais musclés et en phase avec le tempérament de la structure. Un Carruades qui se révèle par paliers et qui a le mérite de chanter les louanges de son grand frère. Il prépare le terrain avec des horizons autant réjouissants pour lui que pour son aîné. Il faudra un peu l'attendre ! 2028-2047 95/100

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Carruades de Lafite has an expressive bouquet with blackberry, wild strawberry and cedar scents that are perhaps a tad less floral than at the time of primeur. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. This is a "juicy" Carruades that's well balanced and fluid with a charming, poised finish that leans more toward the red side of the fruit spectrum. This is very fine.

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Attractive, showing blackcurrants, lead pencil and flowers such as lavender and violets on the nose, as well as tobacco. Medium-bodied and juicy with firm and linear tannins that are rather endless. Impressive stones and chalkiness. Excellent length and crunchiness. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Drink in three or four years.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Carruades de Lafite is a dense, full-throttle Pauillac. Far from an easygoing second wine, the 2022 Carruades is going to need a number of years to be at its best. It’s an almost shockingly powerful wine endowed with serious balance and tons of class. Touches of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot lend hints of spice to round out the blend. The 2022 is stellar. I may very well be underrating it today.

Wine Maniacs

94-96

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

93

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Plums, blackcurrants, dark chocolate and perfumed aromas on the nose. Smooth and bright, silky, sharp, intense but so likeable, a shot of high acidity really sets the tone, this is zinging with energy, bite and power. It's a look at me wine with a strawberry and red cherry sweetness as well as herbal savouriness that hits the mid palate creating a mouthwatering juiciness and sense of structure. The power comes in after a few minutes, alongside minerality and wet stone touches to the fine but present tannins. Streamlined, focussed and confident. Cleverly constructed with lots to like, will age well and has lovely Pauillac touches. 64IPT. 3.75pH. Harvest 31 August to 24 September. 16% press. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Vinous

90-92

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Carruades de Lafite, which represents 37% of the production, has a clean and quite crisp bouquet, pure with black cherries and touches of blue fruit, wilted violet petal emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fine depth, lightly spiced with touches of pencil lead infusing the black fruit. Quite persistent on the aftertaste.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Medium deep colour. Intense redcurrant cassis vanilla aromas. Supple sinuous wine with red currant cassis fruits, underlying mocha notes, some fresh al dente tannins. Finishes firm and tight. 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. 14.5% alc. 94-95+

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 Carruades de Lafite is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a swirl or two to reveal evocative notes of blackcurrant jelly, black raspberries, and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of iris bulb, tilled soil, and crushed cloves. The medium-bodied palate is typically elegant, minerally, and refreshing, with firm, fine-grained tannins to provide support, and a long, lifted finish.

Yvesbeck.wine

94-95

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Carruades se révèle de manière filigrane, pratiquement en chuchotant les caractéristiques de son terroir et du Cabernet au travers de nuances minérales et fruitées ainsi qu'une classique touche d'eucalyptus. A l'image du bouquet, l'attaque est fine, mais également juteuse. Le vin ne cherche pas à éblouir, il se positionne avec délicatesse mais de manière décidée et précise. On relèvera la finesse des grains de tannins ainsi que le côté salivant conféré par une acidité structurante. Un Carruades très serein, élégant et pertinent.

Bettane & Desseauve

94

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Un beau carruades qui se rapproche en style du grand vin. Beau boisé dont nous aimons mieux la façon d’enrober le vin, belle longueur, belle réussite.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

The second wine of Lafite checks in as 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. This smoking good second wine has more than a little Lafite character and offers ample red and black fruits, notes of tobacco, graphite, and leafy herbs, medium to full-bodied richness, silky, polished tannins, and a great finish. As with the Grand Vin, it's concentrated, powerful, and flawlessly balanced.

Vinous

92-94

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Carruades de Lafite is a real showstopper. I don’t remember tasting a Carruades quite like the 2022, a wine that combines the richness of the year with tons of supporting structure. Super-ripe red-fleshed fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon and rose petal all race across the palate, supported by bright citrus-driven acids that keep the flavors vibrant. I can’t wait to see how this turns out. Drinking window : 2028-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Once past all its florality, the wine moves to its red, and black fruit side. With a racy, freshness, the palate offers sweet, ripe, berries, lift, energy, purity and elegance. The finish is where its racy edge shines most with all of its layers of black currants, black plums, spice and flowers. The wine is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 13.7% ABV, 3.7 pH. The wine consists of roughly 35% of the harvest. Drink from 2026-2042.

Wine Advocate

91-93

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

Aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with hints of cedar box, loamy soil, warm spices, violets and orange zest introduce the 2022 Carruades de Lafite, a medium to full-bodied, bright and velvety blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

Extremely perfumed with sweet tobacco and blackcurrants as well as cedar and dark chocolate. Aromatic. Medium-bodied with an intense center palate of blackcurrant, orange peel and peaches. Nervy. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.