The 2018 Lafite-Rothschild is a Bordeaux blend crafted by the esteemed producer Lafite-Rothschild, situated in the Pauillac sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage is composed of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot, and 0.5% Petit Verdot, and it boasts an alcohol content of 13.3%.
James Suckling awarded this wine a near-perfect score of 99, describing it as having "intense and refined" aromas with "gorgeous blackcurrant, lead-pencil and orchid character." He emphasized the wine's "purity of fruit" and praised its "finely polished" tannins, suggesting it has the structure to age for decades. Suckling recommends trying it after 2029.
The Wine Enthusiast gave this wine a flawless score of 100, highlighting its "immensely structured" nature and "complex, concentrated" profile. Reviewer Roger Voss noted the wine's "balance, layers of succulent black-currant fruits, and effortless style," advising that it shouldn’t be touched before 2029.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rated the wine at 100, calling it "simply stunning" and praising its "mineral-laced black fruits" and "exquisitely ripe, singularly Lafite tannins." She mentions that the wine "will require a good 7-8 years in bottle" before it truly begins to shine, with the potential to inspire awe for over 40 years.
Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider rated it 99, describing it as "compelling in every sense of the word" and noting its "incredibly silky textures" and "seamless finish that exceeds 60 seconds." He also highlighted the wine's aromatic complexity, featuring "tobacco leaf, cigar box, cedar chest, red currants, cherries, red plums, 5 spice, flowers, and earthy scents."
Decanter's review, which scored the wine at 98, commended its consistency and character, stating that it "continued being Lafite" despite the challenging vintage conditions. The wine is described as having "bilberry, slate, and pencil lead character" with a "eucalyptus mint wash."
Jeb Dunnuck also rated it 98, calling it a "magical Lafite" with an "incredibly elegant and weightless style." He noted the wine's "textbook blackcurrant fruits, lead pencil shavings, green tobacco, cedarwood, and camphor aromas and flavors."
Vinous and Wine Spectator both awarded the wine 97 points. Vinous praised its "very intense bouquet of blackberry, tar, tobacco, and graphite aromas," while Wine Spectator highlighted its "sleek and extremely focused beam of cassis, black cherry puree, and blackberry preserves."
Lastly, The Wine Independent gave the wine a perfect score of 100, describing it as "deep garnet-purple in color" with notes of "baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and crème de cassis" and a "long, energetic finish."
In summary, the 2018 Lafite-Rothschild is a highly acclaimed wine, noted for its complexity, balance, and aging potential. Multiple reviewers have praised its elegance and structure, suggesting it will continue to develop and impress over the coming decades.