The 2011 Lafite-Rothschild is a Bordeaux Blend from the renowned Lafite-Rothschild winery, located in the Pauillac sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage is a composition of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, crafted from vines averaging 40 years of age. The harvest took place early, from September 3rd to September 21st, and the wine presents with a modest 12.5% alcohol content.
John Sweeney of JJ Buckley rated this wine 97 points, noting its "very dark ruby color with a deep ruby rim." He described it as having "classy and exquisite notes of Asian spices, dark chocolate, raspberry coulis, and hints of lead pencil and fresh roasted coffee." Sweeney praised its balanced acidity and well-integrated tannins, concluding that the wine's highlight is its "long, complex, and silky finish."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate scored it 93 points, observing a "deep ruby/purple color" and describing aromas of "crushed rock, red and black currant, forest floor, and underbrush characteristics." Parker remarked on the moderate tannin and medium body, acknowledging the wine's "freshness and vibrancy," although it felt somewhat more "clipped" compared to previous vintages.
Wine Spectator awarded the wine 94 points, highlighting its "pronounced tobacco and bay leaf notes" with a core of "steeped plum and currant fruit." The review emphasized the wine's "charcoal-lined finish" and noted that its "serious buried minerality" would emerge with cellaring, recommending it be best enjoyed from 2018 through 2031.
Wine Enthusiast gave it a strong 96 points, pointing out the wine's "immensely dense tannic structure" and its potential for aging, suggesting it be consumed from 2019 onwards. The review also mentioned the wine's "ripe black currant and berry fruits" and its "brooding, dark character."
James Suckling, who also rated it 94 points, was particularly taken with the nose, describing it as featuring "sweet tobacco, delicate currant, cedar, and blackberry." He praised its "beautiful texture" and "juicy, fruity, subtle finish," recommending to try it starting in 2019.
Lastly, Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider scored it between 95-96 points, noting scents of "spice, blackberry liqueur, licorice, earth, graphite, and gravel." He appreciated the wine's "full-bodied" nature with "supple tannins, freshness, and good concentration," concluding with a "bright, elegant cassis-filled finish."
Overall, the 2011 Lafite-Rothschild is a well-regarded wine, appreciated for its elegance, complexity, and aging potential, though it may not match the power of some previous vintages.