The 2009 Lafite-Rothschild is a Bordeaux blend comprising 82.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and a touch of Petit Verdot. Produced by the renowned Lafite-Rothschild estate, this wine hails from the Pauillac sub-region of Bordeaux, France. The wine is closed with a cork and has an alcohol content of 13.5%.
This vintage has garnered high praise across various esteemed reviewers, with James Suckling awarding it a perfect score of 100. He describes it as a stunning example of what the Medoc region represents, noting its freshness, delicacy, concentration, and firm core. According to Suckling, "Time has already worked its magic and this is already delicious, but has decades in front of it."
Lisa Perrotti-Brown from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it a score of 97, remarking on its deep garnet color and complex bouquet of red and black currant preserves, warm plums, mulberries, and kirsch, supplemented by nuances of sweaty leather, cigar box, and menthol. She characterizes the wine as medium-bodied, elegant, and firmly structured, with a "wonderful freshness and a long earthy/meaty finish."
John Sweeney from JJ Buckley also gave it a 97, highlighting its "massive" presence and deep purple color. Sweeney notes aromas of blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, coffee, and cherry, describing it as a complete wine with a great mouthfeel that is very complex, elegant, and restrained.
Wine Spectator's review, which scored it 98, praises its ability to balance "massively endowed fig, currant paste, and crushed plum fruit flavors" with notes of "ultrasuave freshly roasted espresso, black tea, and ganache." This reviewer sees the wine as seductive, long, and velvety, with a dense core of black fruit and smoldering iron.
Vinous's Neal Martin awarded the wine a 96, calling it "high-toned and expressive on the nose" with upfront black cherry and boysenberry fruit, lavish new oak, and touches of violet. He describes the palate as sleek and satin-like, with an opulent and almost hedonistic finish.
According to Jancis Robinson, who scored it 95, the 2009 vintage is more evolved than the 2010. She identifies it as "fresh, welcoming, positively prancing with vitality" and notes that it is "definitely Lafite with its ethereal character and neat, dry finish."
Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider rated it 99, describing the wine as "elegant, fresh, vibrant, lively, focused and refined," with a beautiful purity to the fruit. He emphasizes its classic Pauillac nature and lush, almost opulent character.
Jane Anson, also giving it a 99, notes its cedar, sandalwood, slate, licorice, and smoked earth characteristics. She describes it as subtle and slowly revealing its power, with muscular cassis, bilberry, cocoa bean, and pencil lead emerging as it opens up.
In summary, the 2009 Lafite-Rothschild is an exceptional wine that has been lauded for its complexity, elegance, and potential for longevity. It showcases the hallmark qualities of a First Growth Bordeaux, with a structure and depth that promise decades of enjoyment.
