Château Lafite-Rothschild 2012

An extremely classic Lafite, still closed, with clearly defined contours, long and dense, and erratic without any fat; it needs to age.

The 2012 Lafite Rothschild, representing only 38% of their total production, is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance mostly Merlot. It is a very stylish, elegant, yet concentrated Lafite Rothschild with an opaque ruby/purple color, soft, well-integrated tannins, and nicely integrated oak, acidity, and alcohol. Lafite’s 2012 shows a good, opaque ruby/purple color and plenty of lead pencil and blackcurrant fruit. The wine is medium-bodied and should reach its prime from 2020 to 2035.

This has a dark, smoky edge from the start, with smoldering tobacco and grilled savory notes lining the core of steeped plum, macerated black currant and lightly mulled cherry fruit. Shows a loamy, smoky edge to the finish, with the tobacco hint peeking out. Features admirable range, depth and grip, with just a twinge of the vintage's austerity lurking. Best from 2018 through 2030. 16,000 cases made.

With 91% Cabernet Sauvignon this still has a strong tannin backbone, balanced by an elegant fragrance that is Lafite’s hallmark. Bottles have varied, however, so it loses a point.

Superb structure for the vintage with blackcurrant, cedar, mushroom and sweet tobacco character. Full-bodied yet reserved and tight with impressive density. Long finish. Better in 2020.

The 2012 Lafite-Rothschild opens with a striking inner perfume. Long and beautifully persistent on the palate, the 2012 is ample and generous, yet never heavy. Shades of dark red cherry and plum infusion shape the finish. The 2012 is not an epic Lafite, but it is expressive and delicious today.

Light in body, better on the nose with its tobacco, cedar, leaf and herbal profile than on its almost rustic, light palate, the wine finishes with a strong green olive and tobacco leaf note. I’m not sure time will bring much more depth.

Strong ruby with purple reflections and broader rim brightening. Delicately animalistic bouquet, hints of black cherry, nuances of blackberry, candied violets. Juicy, medium complexity, well-integrated tannins, seems rather lean at the core, finesse-rich structure, red berry, already accessible, offers great drinking charm.

Good purity on the nose, fresh berries, cassis, dark cherry, a well-endowed palate with fine tannins, bright and very fresh, serious length and purity, not a blockbuster, rather an elegant style, good potential.

91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot, 0.5% Petit Verdot. Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. Very reserved at first, thus clearly hinting at its spicy depth—tar, truffle, black tea, bramble and Sichuan pepper—but as noted: everything remains underground. On the palate, blue to black berry fruit; the tannins are crumbly, introverted, delivering an almost baroque astringency. Where is the fruit? Presumably at the core of this very compact body. Somehow it reminds me of my very first barrel sample of a Lafite. That was the 1985. It will very likely be at least as good, if not better. In any case, you need quite a bit of fortune‑telling to properly assess this half‑mute, uncommunicative en primeur Lafite. So for now, a reserved rating. This was my 84th Lafite vintage encounter from 1865 to 2012. P.S.: We went from Latour to Lafite and then straight to Mouton. I still had the Lafite on my palate. The palate kept getting sweeter and the finish lingered in the mouth for minutes. A very good sign!

91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot, 0.5% Petit Verdot. Extremely dark purple with violet highlights. Very reserved at first, yet clearly indicating its spicy depth—tar, truffle, black tea, bramble and Sichuan pepper—but, as noted, everything remains in the background. On the palate, blue-to-black berry fruit; the tannins are brittle, inward-looking, conveying an almost baroque astringency. Where is the fruit? Likely at the core of this very compact body. In some ways, this Lafite 2012 reminds me of my very first barrel sample of a Lafite—that was the 1985. It will almost certainly be at least as good, if not better. In any case, it takes a fair bit of fortune-telling to properly assess this half-mute, uncommunicative primeur Lafite. So, a reserved rating for now. This was my 84th Lafite-vintage encounter, from 1865 to 2012. In total, I have more than 500 different Lafite tasting notes on www.bxtotal.com. P.S. We went from Latour to Lafite and then straight to Mouton. I still had Lafite on my palate. The palate grew sweeter and the finish lingered for minutes. A very good sign!

(91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot, 0.5% Petit Verdot) Concentrated, elegant, fresh, complex and sweet bouquet: black berries, currants, fine woods, mint, tobacco, licorice. Dense, velvety, multi-layered, classic palate with a dense, elegant structure, compressed aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, velvety fruit, very long, dense finish with powerful after-flavors. Can improve further. 18/20 2022 - 2045

Savoury bilberry, cassis and liquorice, with softer edges of tobacco and brushed leather. This is a take-your-time, unfurl-slowly kind of wine, with slate-like tannins and sappy sage herbs giving a drawn-out finish. Ripe without being exuberant, showcasing graceful, sinewy muscles that feel like a signature Lafite, albeit lighter in style than the greatest vintages. 38% of overall production, 100% new oak. Charles Chevallier technical director, Eric Boissenot consultant.

The 2012 Lafite Rothschild is medium to deep garnet colored. It struts its stuff with very spicy, exotic notes and wafts of incense over a core of crème de cassis, stewed plums, and fruitcake, plus a licorice and tar undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate delivered bags of perfumed black fruits with a velvety texture and loads of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

Complexity, refinement, and personality in line with expectations, with subtle cedar nuances in the tannins. A vintage that perfectly showcases the breed of the terroir.

Lafite has a very lovely cedar-scented nose. The palate is elegant and elongated; Merlot accounts for only 10%, but it seems a touch dilute. The wine is all about elegance, with attractive spice. The Grand Vin represents 38% of the production.

Slightly violet-tinged purple. A delicate, filigreed bouquet that unfolds over the minutes. Elegant notes of dark fruits and licorice. The terroir speaks through hints of cedar and undergrowth. Complexity builds with notes of coconut, blackcurrant, and blueberry. Elegant, fine, suave attack. Supple, noble body, well supported by a structure that lends both breed and freshness. The finish is still discreet yet elegant, fruity, and very long. I maintain that this is an excellent Lafite. The tannins should reveal themselves further, as they have substance and undeniable potential power. One to follow closely and patiently.

Dark, fairly intense purple color. Discreet, fruity nose. Caressing on entry, flavorful mid-palate, finely woven but with moderate power; the wine develops with savory notes toward a pleasant, long finish. I missed some dimension.

95–97. Barrel sample. Full and powerfully concentrated, this wine has dense acidity, sweet black fruits and very fine tannins. The concentration is enormous but it expresses itself through the prism of smooth, velvet-textured tannins.