Château Lafite Rothschild 2025

Critic scores

• James Suckling99-100
• Jeb Dunnuck96-98
• Wine Advocate95-97
• Decanter97
• Vinous91

The 2025 vintage in Pauillac

Vintage benchmark: 94/100 (appellation benchmark, not a score for this wine)

Vintage character: A dry, bright summer, tempered by cool nights, gave pure, balanced wines, more classic than sun-drenched.

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

"This nose embodies tranquility in a glass, almost dizzying with its captivating floral scent, where acacia, honeysuckle, violet, iris and rose petal combine. The palate is undulating, feline, slender, ultra-soft cashmere. The flavors of sophisticated fruit, stones and graphite intertwine with remarkable harmony. Breathtaking." - Le Figaro

Blend of the 2025 vintage

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.