2010 Carruades de Lafite (Pauillac)

Robert Parker:

The beautiful 2010 Carruades de Lafite may turn out to be one of the finest yet produced (although I still have a weakness for the brilliant 2003, which is drinking beautifully at present). Notes of charcoal, black currants, sweet cherries, licorice, herbs and cedar are all present in this full-bodied, opulent, stunning second wine. It will be drinkable upon release and should last for 20 or more years. 91-94 points.

Neal Martin:

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.5% Merlot, 2.4% Petit Verdot and 5.1% Cabernet Franc, the Carruades has moderate intensity on the nose with scents of blackberry leaf, briary, a touch of cedar and some tobacco notes. The palate is a little disjointed at the moment, the tannins accentuated and a little aggressive at first, some pleasant mulberry and dark plum/cedar accents towards the finish but missing the harmony that anticipated. Tasted March 2011. 88-90 points

Jean-Marc Quarin:

Lovely nose of fruit - but a touch green. Round, juicy and savoury on the palate, with fat. Good length. 87-88 points

Ian D`Agata:

Deep ruby-purple. Highly perfumed, enticing nose offers spicy blackcurrant, violet and minerals. Fresh and sweet in the mouth, with almost syrupy blackberry, plum and saline flavors showing plenty of flesh without any undue heaviness. Nice floral persistence on the slightly simple, sweet, very accessible finish. Though the tannins are youthfully chewy, there is none of the astringency displayed by many merlot-rich 2010 wines. When I mentioned to technical director Charles Chevalier that I loved this wine`s dainty, smooth personality, he pointed out that most of the grapes used to make Carruades come from vines planted on soils with a higher percentage of clay, which partly explains why this merlot-rich wine doesn`t show astringent tannins. 87-90 points