Château Lafite Rothschild - Pauillac 2013

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe10/28/2016

The 2013 Lafite-Rothschild is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and just 2% Merlot. It has a straightforward, focused, undergrowth and tobacco-scented bouquet, nicely defined if perhaps missing the complexity and nuance of recent vintages. The palate is supple on the entry with notes of tart cherry, wild strawberry and a touch of graphite. It is certainly approachable for Lafite-Rothschild, balanced, though missing structure and density towards the sappy finish. It is a lightweight Lafite-Rothschild that does improve with aeration as it did in barrel, yet it never scales the heights of the greatest vintages from this First Growth.

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

the3/31/2016

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2016

The aromas of Lafite in 2013 are complex and fascinating with cigar box, Spanish cedar, and dark fruit. Hints of hot stone. Full body, chewy tannins yet very polished and refined. Solid density on the palate. Very long and impressive. This needs three to five years to open. Very impressive for the vintage.

Wine Advocate

87-89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/29/2014

Only one-third of the tiny 2013 crop made it into the 2013 Lafite Rothschild, which may be the lowest rated Lafite produced in the last twenty years. Composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, only the 1994 (99% Cabernet Sauvignon) and 1961 (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) had higher percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend. The 2013 possesses a dark ruby color, but it does not reveal much of the Lafite Rothschild character in the aromatics or flavors. Elegant, with dark cherry fruit interwoven with underbrush and damp wood-like notes, it narrows in the mouth, and while it is above-average, possibly even excellent, it is hardly an inspiring wine. At its price point, it is a major underachiever in this vintage.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89-92 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/16/2014

(98% cabernet sauvignon and 2% merlot):  Medium red-ruby.  Very precise, pure, flinty raspberry and coffee aromas are complicated by an intense violet note.  Then almost steely in the mouth, with a bright, juicy personality to the flavors of red berries, plum, graphite and minerals.  This struck me as quite mouthfilling without being at all heavy.  Finishes with building but smooth tannins and a lovely lingering strawberry sweetness.  General director Charles Chevalier said "I went looking for fruit this year by harvesting as late as feasible, which of course meant that due to rot we made even less wine than projected, but I think we were able to achieve more fruit in this manner.  I may have to decrease the time this wine will spend aging in oak but I don't know yet."  When I mentioned to Chevallier that I couldn't remember the last time a vintage of Lafite had so much cabernet sauvignon, he promptly answered:  "Few people know, but in 1994 the final blend was an unbelievable 99% cabernet sauvignon and 1% petit verdot; this year we just had to get rid of most of the merlot, because even at 3% or 4% of the total it was obviously only diluting the whole."

timatkin.com

95 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe5/7/2014

Made with 98% Cabernet Sauvignon (only 1994 and 1961 had 100%), for my money this is the best First Growth in 2012. Long, refreshing and smooth, with seamlessly integrated new oak, polished tannins and a mineral, graphite core.

matthewjukes.com

18,5 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/23/2014

(98 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 Merlot) Exceptional depth of flavour for a wine that it medium-weight and also only 12.7% alc. They had to select around the botrytis in order to try to get more and more depth of flavour without any botrytis notes creeping in. Incredible, weightless and epic graphite and cassis fruit. This wine is an anomaly – fine, old style weight and yet with modern, bright fruit. Acidity and tannins are incredibly ripe and very pure. One of the most centred, elegant and clean wines of the vintage. Heroic weight (or lack of, I suppose!). Only half the normal yields. Charles Chevallier agreed with me that while he won’t want to make vintages like this every year it is like going back to the seventies only with cleaner, more pinpoint accurate fruit. For this reason and because I think it will age with grace and charm this wine merits the same score as last year’s wine and this makes it one of the wines of the vintage!

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/17/2014

The 2013 Lafite hits the palate with a burst of dark red and purple fruit. White flowers, mint and licorice all develop in the glass, adding layers of depth and complexity. Smoke, tar, cinnamon, graphite, dried violets and plums are all layered into the resonant finish. The style is up-front, textured and generous, with no hard edges and plenty of near to medium-term potential. The blend is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot. Tasted twice.

My Bettane + Desseauve

17,5-18 / 20

the4/15/2014

Grand nez de cèdre, ensemble très vigoureux et corsé, grand support tannique, encore un peu de raideur initiale liée à la proportion énorme de cabernet-sauvignon (98 %)

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/15/2014

The Grand Vin is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot. The latter was apparently difficult to assimilate with the Cabernet, gradually adding 1% at a time and finally, electing 2% as the optimal amount. As usual, I spent 10+ minutes with my sample, as it is never as immediate as say, Latour or Château Margaux. It has an elegant bouquet with a fine violet scent that became more accentuated with time. There is plenty of dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit, a touch of pencil shavings that becomes more pronounced with aeration. The palate is a little austere because of the dominance of the Cabernet Sauvignon, although that 2% Merlot does take the edge off the finish, rounding out any edges. The aftertaste has that attractive saline tincture, but here a little spicier and longer than its peers. This is a traditional Pauillac; a success for the vintage and a wine that I think will improve in bottle rather than in barrel. A steadfast Lafite.

Decanter.com

18,25 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/14/2014

Superb black-red colour, fine depth of blackcurrant fruit, all elegance,  precision, clarity and class, total vineyard expression that will repay  keeping.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/8/2014

This is exceptionally high in cabernet sauvignon at 98%, with only 2% merlot. It shows aromas of blackcurrants, flowers and cigar box. Full body, fine tannins and a long finish. It’s subtle and polished.      

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/3/2014

This wine has firm tannins, lending it a dark, serious character. It is hugely concentrated, full of black fruit and sweet wood flavors. Along with the weight, it does have a more elegant side, showing potential balance, freshness and a long finish.              

René Gabriel

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/3/2014

98 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 % Merlot. Tiefes Purpur, Granatschimmer am Rand. Sehr reserviert, also wenig Kommunikation liefernd, der extrem grosse Cabernetanteil deckt irgendwie die Pimäraromen zu, nicht kalt, aber doch sehr würzig mit einer guten, fein trüffeligen Tiefe. Im Gaumen spürt man eine Nuance Malz und Honig, welches die spätere Süsse anzeigt, die Tannine sind muskulös, bilden aber doch eine sehr ausgeglichene Adstringenz. Ein klassischer, beruhigender Lafite mit einem Aromenblend, welcher mit den Jahrgängen 1988 und 1985 vergleichbar ist. Auch in 10 Jahren wird man sich noch genau überlegen wie lange man ihn dekantieren soll. Also nichts für Ungeduldige. Ist der beste Pauillac-Premier!

Wine Spectator

89-92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2014

Still a bit clouded by oak today, this presents a slightly firm frame and a whiff of bread dough, but there’s persistence to the red currant, floral, iron and sanguine flavors, all carried by finely beaded acidity. Noticeably austere throughout. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.