2010 Lafite Rothschild Charles Chevallier on Lafite and Other Wines

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2010 Lafite Rothschild, 2010 Chateau Duhart Milon, 2010 Carruades de Lafite, 2010 Bordeaux Wine review, tasting notes and ratings.

2010 LafiteRothschild – Produced from a blend of 87.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12.8% Merlot, (which is close to what the estate used in 2005, the wine opened with cedar, earth, minerality, cassis and forest floor aromatics.  In the mouth, the wine is suave, polished and fresh with layers of pure blackberry and spicy cassis. In 2010, the wine is pure refined elegance. While not the most powerful first Growth, it’s the most regal in bearing. According to the Director CharlesChevalier,  part of the reason for the success in 2010 was due to less pumping over than usual. Chevalier added, with the 13.5% alcohol level, his team spent more time watching over every vat during fermentation. 97-99 Pts

2010 Duhart Milon 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, which is also similar to the what the property used in 2005, the wine opens with sweet oak, truffle, cassis and tobacco notes. This medium/full bodied cassis filled wine has ripe tannins and a long, polished black fruit filled finish. 93-95 Pts

2010 Carruades de Lafite With cedar, earth, forest floor scents, this medium bodied wine offers cassis, cranberry and bright spicy flavors. 88-90 Pts

LafiteRothschild sells for dizzying prices these days.  Current releases can sell for $2,000 per bottle in the Chinese market! Obviously, Lafite is not an everyday wine, nor is it often tasted by younger wine drinkers.  Charles Chevallier said Bordeaux is the perfect wine for beginners.  But his appellation of choice is surprising.  According to Chevalier, “New wine lovers should start with the sweet wine of Sauternes. They are perfectly balanced with alcohol, sweetness and perfumes. This will prepare them to start enjoying red wines.”

We asked Chevallier a follow-up question.  What does he look for first, when tasting a wine? His wines are complex, but his answer was perfectly simple.  “Pleasure is number one.”

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