2009 Carruades de Lafite
By Chateau Lafite Rothschild
2009 Carruades de Lafite from Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The year of 2009 blessed Bordeaux with a season of close to perfect meteorological conditions, crafting a tapestry on which the Chateau Lafite Rothschild painted the compelling Carruades de Lafite. The second wine of this storied estate echoes its sibling's excellence, presenting itself as an astute choice for the fine wine investor seeking both pleasure and potential growth.
Exceptional Vintage Met by Masterful Craft
The 2009 Carruades de Lafite emerges as a sterling representative of its cherished lineage. The experienced hands at Chateau Lafite Rothschild triumphed with yet another masterpiece, weaving the rich fruit intensity born from Pauillac's sun-drenched vineyards with an artisan's touch.
The Quintessential Elegance of Pauillac
With a core of dark berries and cassis, the 2009 Carruades de Lafite offers nuances of pencil lead and hints of smoky oak—a classic hallmark of the great Cabernet Sauvignon-led wines of this appellation. The backbone is superbly structured yet, even in its formative years, showed signs of the silkiness that time would unfurl.
One finds in the glass a balance seldom achieved with such grace; layers unfold with each sip revealing complexities that promise evolution over years, if not decades. Notes of cedar and violets marry the opulence of blackcurrant and plums, creating a profile replete with elegance and depth synonymous with the legendary terroir of Pauillac.
In conclusion, the 2009 Carruades de Lafite stands in the realm where connoisseurs’ appreciation and savvy investors' insights converge. This vintage, endowed with such prodigious qualities and crafted by an iconic producer like Chateau Lafite Rothschild, cements its place as one of the most collectable and consummately pleasurable wines of both its generation and region.
Current market price
$5,440.25
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
217.27
Scores and tasting notes
Currants and blackberries on the nose. Spicy and intense undertones. Full body, with juicy fruit and a soft, very silky texture and a long, long finish. Polished and very pretty. Best Carraudes ever. Try in 2018.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, February 14th 2012
Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This is a great performance for a Second wine that, let us be honest, 15 years ago was looked down upon and sold cheaply. Here, the 2009 has a very ripe bouquet with breezy dark black plum and boysenberry fruit mingling with orange rind, a touch of bacon fat and even a hint of mango sorbet. The palate is full-bodied with succulent, grippy tannins. There is great weight and volume to this wine, although the acidity keeps everything in check. Smooth and harmonious, turning chalkier in texture towards the finish, this is a complex 2009 Pauillac that should age well. Tasted January 2013.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2013
Of course, the wine to buy in order to get a look at the Lafite Rothschild style and personality is their second wine, Carruades de Lafite, which has become very fashionable in Asia, causing the prices to soar. A very strong effort, the 2009 Carruades de Lafite may be the finest Carruades since the 2003. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and tiny amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it reveals lots of sweet cassis intermixed with subtle smoke and forest floor, undeniable lusciousness and full-bodied hedonism. The wood component is pushed to the background, and the wine is extremely viscous, round and delicious. Additional complexity should continue to emerge over the next decade and this 2009 should keep for 20-30 years.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 December 2011