Château Lafite Rothschild - Pauillac 2008 6b11bd6ba9341f0271941e7df664d056

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

A candidate for the -wine of the vintage,- the 2008 should have been purchased before it began to soar in value because of the significance of the number 8 in the Chinese culture (denoting good luck). Representing 40% of the production, this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc offers aromas of high quality unsmoked cigar tobacco, lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, earth, cedar and asphalt. Full, rich and stunningly concentrated, I doubt it is inferior to the 2010, just more classic as well as slightly more forward and a degree weaker in alcoholic potency (12.5% versus 13.5%). The 2008 should be relatively drinkable in 6-10 years as it is already showing remarkable complexity and breed, and will last for 30-35 years...at the minimum. Drink 2017-2052

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe12/15/2010

This is supple and harmonious already, with inviting, almost plush blackberry, plum and fig fruit notes carried by very fine-grained, lighlty cedary structure. Black tea and sandalwood flash on the finish. Poised now, but has the stuffing for more time in bottle. Drink now through 2020. - J.M.

Falstaff

91-93 / 100

the6/30/2009

(83% CS, 13% ME, 4% PV) Tiefes Rubingranat, schwarzer Kern, violette Reflexe. In der Nase feines Brombeerkonfit, feine Kräuterwürze, tabakige Nuancen, zart nach Orangenzesten, insgesamt verhalten. Am Gaumen dunkles Beerenkonfit, präsente Tannine, die den Wein prägen, mit guter Extraktsüße unterlegt, frisches Säuregerüst, feine zitronige Nuanen, gute Länge, ein herrischer Wein, der noch etwas monolithisch wirkt, hat gutes Entwicklunspotenzial.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-94 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/28/2009

a blend of 83% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot and 4% cabernet franc) Deep purple-ruby. Dense, rich, absolutely classic Lafite nose redolent of blackcurrant, cedar and graphite. Enters fat, with blackberry, licorice and underbrush flavors framed by strong but harmonious acids and youthful tannins that will need time to resolve. This is presently the most backward and closed of the Medoc first growths in '08, but should prove spectacular in time: insiders know that cooler vintages such as '08 are perfectly suited to Lafite's terroir, a case in point being the '88, an initially austere wine that has come around magnificently.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/5/2009

83 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 13 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc. Dunkles Granat mit violetten Reflexen am Rand. Konzen-triertes, tiefgründiges Bouquet, Brazil-Tabak, Korinthen, Rauch und Sommertrüffel, Heidelbeertouch, trockener Fruchtansatz, zart nach After-Eight. Im Gaumen fest und muskulös, mit kernigem, ja fast grünem Tannin, charaktervoll zwar, aber selten kantig und bourgeois, ähnelt dem 88er. Kann in 20 Jahren den Mangel an Finesse absorbieren, nur deshalb gehen wir auf 18/20. Dennoch ist dies der sicherlich schwächste Premier Grand Cru des Jahrgangs! 2022 – 2045

Wine Advocate

98-100 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2009

The 2008 Lafite Rothschild is one of the most profound young wines I have ever tasted. From a taster’s perspective, it is reminiscent of a blend of the 1996 and 2003, but when you compare those vintages analytically, that makes no sense whatsoever. Representing only 40% of the production, this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc boasts an opaque ruby/purple color (one of the darkest Lafites I have seen in 30 years) as well as an extraordinary, blockbuster aromatic profile of lead pencil shavings, forest floor, black fruits, licorice, and a hint of unsmoked, high-class cigar tobacco. In the mouth, a massive richness is accompanied by a freshness, delineation, nuance, delicacy, and mind-boggling density. Even after three decades of tasting, I am still astonished when tasting such a prodigious wine as this. Full, inky, and rich with creme de cassis and spice box characteristics as well as a length that I stopped measuring after a minute, the wine reveals a sweetness to the tannin and an opulence to the fruit that suggests a hot, sunny vintage, but again, that was not the case. There wasn’t a great deal of heat, but there was more sunshine than the negative press reported at the beginning of September. This is a great, great wine. The harvest at Lafite took place between October 1-7 for the Merlot grapes, the Cabernet Franc was picked in mid-October, and the Cabernet Sauvignon between October 7-14 - an unbelievably late harvest for this estate. This wine should evolve for 30-40 years and last 50 or more. As I have indicated before, Lafite’s second wine is now one of Bordeaux’s finest second wines, and is made very much in the Lafite style.Interestingly, Lafite Rothschild’s manager, Charles Chevalier, told me there was not much flavor in the grapes in mid-September, but a month later, after four weeks of extraordinary weather, they believed something profound may have happened given the flavor development. Again, the historically long period between flowering and harvest, and very low yields are part of the secret to the great success of wines such as this.

La Revue du Vin de France

17-18 / 20

the4/29/2009

Lafite comme à son habitude en primeur se présentait sous un profil strict. Avec une prise de bois encore présente au nez, c'est en bouche que le vin révèle tout son potentiel et sa race. Le cabernet-sauvignon (83%) une fois encore réservera des surprises à l'issue de son élevage et bien plus tard en bouteille. Le vin va gagner en chair et en étoffe. Charles Chevalier l'annonce : "Par rapport aux 2007, je vois dans les 2008 une meilleure construction au niveau des tanins". Un très bon classique d'un Lafite encore naissant.

TAST

18.50 / 20

the4/23/2009

Le grand nez racé du cru est au rendez-vous avec ses notes de cèdre, la texture est aussi serrée que le corps est affirmé, mais on reste un peu sur sa faim tant l’évidence de son classicisme s’oppose à la vigueur de Latour à ce stade, à la monumentalité de Cos d’Estournel et à la volupté de texture de Mouton. Disons-le, nous adorons titiller ces premiers crus pour qu’ils ne se reposent jamais sur leurs lauriers… Carruades est vinifié souple et élégant, volontairement, pour compléter stylistiquement la gamme de pauillac des domaines.

Jancis Robinson

17.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2009

Cabernet Sauvignon 83%, Merlot just 13%. Subtle purplish crimson. Sumptuous nose – almost Mouton-like (whereas Mouton seems to be making a more Lafite-like wine in 2008). Richer and riper than some earlier vintages of Lafite with even a hint of sweetness. Medium tannins and a dry finish but not the ballerina-like lift that I associate with Lafite. Not much lift or real aromatic interest – but perhaps we were too hurried through the tasting room to appreciate its finer points? Both Julia and Steven Spurrier tasting alongside me were more enthusiastic. Drink 2015-30 17,5+

Decanter Magazine

19 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/14/2009

(Cabernet Sauvingon 83%, Merlot 13%, Cabernet Franc 4%.) Purple-black-red, really fine controlled fragrance and purity of blackcurrant fruit on the nose, already textured and layered, still firm on the palate, great depth of fruit, doesn't show the typical Lafite charm, but has both power and breed in perfect harmony, will develop slowly and brilliantly. Drink 2018-40.

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/7/2009

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, this has a very deep, almost opaque purple colour. The bouquet is quite similar to the Duhart: a little sulky and timid at this stage, although it always takes longer to emerge than other Pauillacs. Blackberry leaf, a touch of tobacco and graphite, almost conservative at the moment. After a couple of minutes, those fruits begin to emerge with blackberry, a touch of scorched leather, Xmas cake and all spice. I think there is a lot of complexity here, but it is buried deep within the wine. The palate is very well structured, firm tannins, good acidity and a wonderful crescendo. It really lacquers the palate – this is much more assertive than the coquettish Château Margaux tasted directly before. Very fresh on the finish, subtle vanillary oak, unfurling with the passing minutes. Anyone not allowing this wine ten minutes to open will have missed the point. Outstanding. Tasted April 2009.

Wine Spectator

91-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2009

This has a very intriguing nose. Already shows complex aromas of currant and crushed berries, with hints of dried flowers. Full-bodied and very chewy, with intense tannins, but polished and velvety. Long and pretty. The finish stays with you a long time.