The 2008 Lafite-Rothschild Bordeaux Blend is a distinguished red wine from the renowned Pauillac sub-region in Bordeaux, France. Produced by Lafite-Rothschild, this wine boasts a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, and is sealed with a traditional cork closure. With an alcohol content of 12.5%, this wine is noted for its classic and elegant profile.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate praises the 2008 vintage as a "candidate for the wine of the vintage," scoring it a remarkable 98 points. The review highlights its complex aromas, including "unsmoked cigar tobacco, lead pencil shavings, crème de cassis, earth, cedar, and asphalt," and describes it as "full, rich, and stunningly concentrated." Parker notes that the wine is likely to be drinkable in 6-10 years and could last for at least 30-35 years.
Wine Enthusiast also awards the wine a high score of 97 points, calling it "elegance in a glass," with a structure that is "very upright" and features "enticing acidity and black berry fruits." The review emphasizes the wine's aging potential and its combination of weight and richness.
Neal Martin's Wine Journal, giving it 97 points, highlights the wine's "beautiful, classic Pauillac nose" with aromas of "pure blackberry, graphite, and sous-bois." Martin finds the palate "very structured and complex," with "very fine and rigid tannins" and a "beguiling sense of symmetry and focus."
James Suckling rates the wine at 95 points, noting its "minerals, tar and sous bois with dark fruit," and describes it as "full and chewy with lots of fruit but very reserved." He advises giving it 4-5 years of bottle age before exploring its full potential.
Wine Spectator gives it 92 points, appreciating its "supple and harmonious" nature with "inviting, almost plush blackberry, plum, and fig fruit notes" and a finish featuring "black tea and sandalwood."
Decanter and Vinous both score the wine at 94 points. Decanter describes it as "extremely Cabernet dominant" with "savoury black fruit and a ton of Pauillac character," while Vinous notes its "well-balanced" palate with "fine grain tannin and good density."
Jeb Dunnuck, scoring it 94+ points, remarks on the wine's "textbook Lafite elegance and class" and advises hiding bottles for 4-5 years to enjoy over the next 30 years.
Jeff Leve also scores the wine at 97 points, noting its "elegant, refined, pure, focused, vibrant, fresh, and classic" nature, with nuances of "cedar, tobacco leaf, lead pencil, cassis, and blackberry."
Overall, the 2008 Lafite-Rothschild is a highly acclaimed wine, noted for its elegance, complexity, and significant aging potential.