Château Lafite Rothschild 2002

Critic scores

• Wine Advocate94
• Vinous91

The 2002 vintage in Pauillac

Vintage benchmark: 89/100 (appellation benchmark, not a score for this wine)

Vintage character: A dry, bright October redeemed a mediocre summer: the Médoc's cabernets fared well, the merlots far less so.

Overall reading of the year’s season across Pauillac. An estate can depart from it sharply, in frost or hail years, where two neighbours did not make the same vintage. What this particular wine actually gave is on its technical sheet and in the scores above.

Tasting

Open, heady, expressive nose; ripe red fruits, predominantly Merlots. Round mouth, quite voluminous and ample with a slightly bitter finish and good acidity to support the tannin.

Blend of the 2002 vintage

Figures from the 2002 sheet

• 46 hl/haYield
• 200,000 bottlesProduction

Winemaking

The maceration duration varies depending on each tank, but is generally around 20 days. Following malolactic fermentation, the wines are barreled into French oak barrels. Lafite has its own cooperage in Pauillac, a factor which contributes to its unique style.

Ageing

Following blending, the wine begins its 20-month period of ageing and maturation in new oak barrels.

Terroir

The vineyard comprises three main areas: the slopes around the Château, the Carruades plateau adjoining it to the west, and a 4.5 ha parcel in the neighbouring commune of Saint Estèphe. The vineyard covers 112 ha of fine, deep gravel soils mixed with aeolian sands over a Tertiary limestone subsoil, well drained and well exposed. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (2%). The average age of the vines is 38 years overall, but it should be noted that vines under 10 years old (20 ha) do not go into the grand vin, so that the average age of the vines contributing to the grand vin is closer to 45 years. The oldest parcel, known as « La Gravière », was planted in 1886.