Château Lafite Rothschild 2022 is the Grand Vin of this Pauillac First Growth, Cabernet-led and built for long ageing. The final blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, harvested early—August 31 to September 24, 2022—after a hot, dry season. Several reviewers also note élevage in entirely new oak, and reported alcohol varies slightly by source (13.5%–13.6%).
The critical reception is exceptional, led by multiple perfect scores. William Kelley for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awards 100 points and calls it “certainly the most elegant of the first growths this year,” praising its “deep, enveloping core of lively fruit” and “beautifully refined tannins,” even likening its poise to “a modern-day version of Lafite’s magical 1953.” Jeb Dunnuck also gives 100, describing it as “just sensational in its power while remaining weightless,” with “off-the-charts purity” and “a finish that won’t quit,” projecting 50–75+ years of evolution.
James Suckling’s 100-point review frames it as a “benchmark modern Lafite,” highlighting tobacco, orange peel, cedar and “pencil shavings,” and notes that “it goes on for minutes,” recommending it “best after 2030 but already fascinating.” Decanter’s 100 points emphasize restraint, calling it “deep, dark and restrained,” with “sea spray minerality” and “a masterpiece of understatement and precision,” additionally noting the wine as “Organic.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Palate) also scores 100 and focuses on finesse, citing “laser-precise” structure and “incredible tension… finishing with epic length.”
High-90s reviews reinforce the style: Neal Martin (Vinous) finds a “marine-influenced nose” and a “mineral-driven finish,” while Jeff Leve (99) calls it “bottled silky elegance” with a finish nearing “60 seconds.” The Wine Independent (97) is slightly more cautionary on approachability, concluding: “Buyers of this wine will need to be patient.”
