x
  • Country ranking ?

    992
  • Producer ranking ?

    39
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now to 2030
  • Food Pairing

    roasted lamb

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

Close

This beautiful, stunningly dense purple-colored effort (includes about 90% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up precise notes of graphite, black cherries, cassis, scorched earth, and minerals. Medium to full-bodied with fabulous fruit, impressive richness, refreshing acidity, and sweet tannin, this beauty should be approachable in 4-5 years, and last for three decades. As Lafite Rothschilds go, this is somewhat of a sleeper vintage. ...

Close

The Story

The Château Lafite estate run by the Rothschilds is, with its 100 hectares of cultivated land, the largest of the main Pauillac vineyards.

It is located in the highest part of the area and the view from its château, with its conical towers that appear on the label, takes in the banks of the River Gironde, which flows nearby. The wines are a blend of four different varieties of grape – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Cabernet F...

Close

Wine Information


Vintage 2004

After a rainy winter and a cold spring, the months of June and July were dry and warm. August was mild and in September the weather was good without being very warm, which led to slow ripening and the harvest dates being pushed back to the end of September. Patience was needed to wait for the grapes to be perfectly ripe.

On the nose, the wine is closed and is beginning to open slowly. Note of preserved fruit. Rich at first...

Close

Latest Pro-tasting notes

13 tasting notes

Tasting note

Be the first one to make a 20s tasting note!

Written Notes

From a maagnum. Dense, blackfruits, black cherries. Dark chocolate. Still youthful and firm. Quite long and lots of tannins. Drinking this too young. Does have good length. Good underlying acidity. A good and enjoyable wine but, at this stage, lacks exuberance and soul.
  • 92p

Ruby, some mint, cassis, floral notes, enormously elegant Pauillac nose. Wisteria, vanilla, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, mouthwatering texture, elegant structure, young, fresh and lively, perfect balance, very long indeed. Yes, it's by far too young, still flirting now if decanted. 95

  • 95p

The 2004 Lafite-Rothschild appears to be another late-bloomer in the sense that this 12-year-old bottle is the best I have tasted, implying an upward swing in quality. It has a wondrous bouquet, very sensual and pure with blackberry, graphite and cedar - all the hallmarks of Pauillac, delivered with great panache. It is more opulent than I recall. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, pitch-perfect acidity and a beautiful structure. There is a regal sense to this Lafite, understated compared to the other First Growths and yet the persistence on the finish deserves a round of applause, especially in the context of the vintage. This is superb and could possibly turn out to be the pick of the Firsts. Tasted September 2016.

  • 95p
Lafite Rothschild 2004 (barrel sample) 96+p Tasted in April 2005. This was a real thrill. Sublime everywhere with velvety texture, silky tannins, exquisite depth and structure, great length. Racy and sophisticated. For sure it can last for 20-25 years.
  • 96p
Load more notes

Information

Origin

Pauillac, Bordeaux
Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

Insight Member

 
Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

Insight Member

  Register