Château Lafite Rothschild 1995

Review of the Estate

Château Lafite Rothschild is one of the most renowned wine properties in the Médoc. Owned by Baron Eric de Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild is also one of the largest Médoc estates. The vineyards of Ch. Lafite are found at the northern tip of the Pauillac appellation, just below the boundary with St. Estephe.

There is evidence of an estate on this site as far back as the 14th century, and of exports of wine to the UK in the early 17th century. The current owners, the Rothschilds of the famous banking dynasty, bought the property in 1866, but this is a different side of the family from that which purchased Chateau Mouton Rothschild.

Vineyard

Surface area: 247 acres

Grape Varieties: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot

Average age of vines: 45 years

Density of plantation: 7,500 vines per hectare

Average yields: 48 hectolitres per hectare

Average cases produced: 17,500 per year

Plateau of maturity: 10-50 years

Château Lafite Rothschild 1995 Reviews / Tasting Notes

Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 95
The 1995 Lafite-Rothschild (only one-third of the harvest made it into the final blend) is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. The wine was showing spectacularly well when I tasted it in November, 1997. It exhibits a dark ruby purple color, and a sweet, powdered mineral, smoky, weedy cassis-scented nose. Beautiful sweetness of fruit is present in this medium-bodied, tightly-knit, but gloriously pure, well-delineated Lafite. The 1995 is not as powerful or as massive as the 1996, but it is beautifully made with outstanding credentials, in addition to remarkable promise. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2028.

James Suckling - Wine Spectator
Point Score: 98
I pulled this lone bottle out of my cellar at the last minute to remind some Italian vintners of the great quality of the 1995 Bordeaux vintage. They seem to be finally opening up! What a red with incredible depth and finesse. Cedar, cigar box and toabaaco character with currants and fresh tobacco undertones. It's full-bodied yet tight and dense. Precision. So refined and intense. Such freshness and beauty.

Jancis Robinson
Point Score: 19/20
Blaickish ruby with hardly any suggestion of ageing. That very refined lift of Lafite on the nose - oyster shells? Very elegant indeed - no dry tannins. Complete and with enough juice. A very fine Lafite. Lovely graphite finish - sinewy. No heaviness at all. And the tannins are SO well managed!

Chateau Lafite Rothschild Wine List