The story of Carruades de Lafite Rothschild 2011, Pauillac
The history of the Lafite Rothschild estate goes back a long way.
At the end of the 17th century, on a property where vines had already been planted, Jacques de Ségur structured the vineyard and enhanced the estate's reputation. His son Alexandre enlarged the vineyard by marrying the Latour heiress in 1965. Their son Nicolas-Alexandre built Lafite's reputation in the early 18th century. The wine was first appreciated in Versailles, then across the Channel. When he died, Château Lafite was bought by a multitude of owners, all keen to preserve the exceptional quality of this wine and make it ever more prestigious.
It was classified
1er Grand Cru in 1855 under the Goudal family. In 1868, Baron James de Rothschild bought the estate at auction. It has remained in the family ever since.
Carruades de Lafite Rothschild is the second wine of Château Lafite Rothschild and therefore enjoys an excellent reputation. Its name comes from the "plateau des Carruades", the name of the parcels acquired in 1985 around Château Lafite.
Grape varieties and characteristics of Carruades de Lafite Rothschild 2011
In the Château Lafite Rothschild vineyard, different grape varieties are grown. The grape varieties are 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot with 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The average age of the vines is 38 years, with a parcel called
La Gravière planted in 1886. At Lafite, only 35% of the harvest is reserved for the grand vin. The remainder is destined for the
Carruades de Lafite second wine, whose blend is marked by a higher proportion of Merlot.
Château Lafite Rothschild produces the second wine Carruades de Lafite with alcohol levels ranging from 12.5° to 14°. For this 2011 vintage, the alcohol level is 12.5°, offering a fairly closed nose. Notes of red berries, tobacco, coffee and spices are evident. On the palate, this wine is beautifully rounded with well-defined tannins. A long, elegant wine.
Robert Parker score 87-89/100.
Other Pauillac wines include those of
Château Pichon Comtesse,
Château Latour and
Château Duhart-Milon.
We offer other vintages of Carruades de Lafite such as
1988,
2000,
2010,
1999
