Almost black in color, this stunning wine is gorgeous, rich and dense. It’s grand and powerful, with a strong sense of its own importance. The beautiful tannins and the fragrant black currant fruits are palpable. It’s a great wine, with huge potential.
— R.V.
(5/1/2013)
Perhaps of all the first growths in the totally un-classic 2000, this retains most of the classic Bordeaux. It is certainly almost black in color, while the new wood flavors are very present. But it shows an impressive restraint, leaving the power of the wine to be revealed over the years rather than immediately. This could well be the longest-lived of the Pauillac…
— R.V.
(6/1/2003)
Initially dense, almost black enough to be attacked with a knife. But then it becomes apparent that this is a beautifully integrated, balanced wine, bringing together power, with the hallmark Lafite style and poise. In the end, you have a wine that promises an impressive aging potential along with delicious black currant fruits, acidity and a layer of striking…
— R.V.
(6/1/2008)
97-99 An enormous structure, the wine is filled with tannins as well as dark berry fruit. It is so powerful, so concentrated, yet a great finesse brings together all the elements into a superb wine.
— R.V.
(6/25/2011)
96-98 A beautiful wine, concentrated and intense without tasting in any way extracted or forced. It has tannins, certainly, very dark and concentrated, but the fruit is black, powerful, rich, yet still maintaining purity and a sense of minerality from the vineyard.
— R.V.
(6/1/2005)
This is a splendid wine. Yes, it is more powerful than the usual aristocratic Lafites, but it still manages to retain a special air of great elegance and presence. The fruits are black, the tannins immensely powerful, the flavors are of black figs, dates, cocoa. At the end, there is a vibrant acidity that shows through, which promises a great life for this great…
— R.V.
(5/1/2006)
96-98 Barrel sample. Deceptively soft, dusty tannins; underneath this velvet veneer, the wine is a powerhouse of dry firmness. It's a powerful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon with great ripeness and cassis flavors.
— R.V.
(6/20/2006)
96-98 Barrel sample. Very dense, a muscular wine, very concentrated. It has a superb texture of velvet, while still keeping an abundance of dry tannins. There is power here, solid and dense structure, but there are also bright fruits. Vivid, concentrated.
— R.V.
(12/31/2009)