Château Lafite Rothschild 2004

Critic scores

• Wine Advocate95

The 2004 vintage in Pauillac

Vintage benchmark: 88/100 (appellation benchmark, not a score for this wine)

Vintage character: High yields and a dry September gave a classic, unexaggerated vintage, straightforward, now at its peak.

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

On the nose, the wine is discreet and opens slowly. Slightly candied fruity notes. On the palate, ample at first, then evolving towards a generous balance, opulent with great elegance. The finish is very long, suave and silky.

Blend of the 2004 vintage

Figures from the 2004 sheet

• 13 % vol.Alcohol
• 40 yrsVine age
• 200,000 bottlesProduction

Winemaking

Fermentation takes place in two vat rooms: the traditional vat room, fitted with large oak vats, and the modern vat room, fitted with stainless steel vats. Blending is carried out when the barrels are first racked in March.

Ageing

The wine then begins its ageing and maturation in the cellar, a stage lasting 18 to 20 months.

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.