Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2000

I expected the 2000 Lafite Rothschild to be much too young, but I was blown away by how it performed at this meal. A classic Lafite with notes of lead pencil shavings and black currants as well as a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, it possessed striking intensity as well as aromatics. The wine seemed more evolved than I remember, but it is still an adolescent in terms of maturity. This beautiful, rich, full offering is a stunning achievement.

Since I gave this wine a perfect score, I suppose some could see this as a downgrade. I found everything still there for a perfect rating, but I was just struck by how tight and backward the wine was. A blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, the wine still has a dark ruby/purple color and an extraordinarily youthful nose of graphite, black currants, sweet, unsmoked cigar tobacco, and flowers. The wine is rich, medium to full-bodied, but has that ethereal elegance and purity that is always Lafite. I originally predicted that it would first reach maturity in 2011, but I would push that back by 5-7 years now, although it has 50-60 years of life in front of it. Owners of this beauty are probably best advised to forget it for 5 years. Tasted next to a 1996 several days after the 2000 tasting, the 1996, which is a perfect wine, was far closer to full maturity than the 2000.

The opaque purple-colored 2000 Lafite Rothschild has put on weight during its élevage. Despite the fact the fact that it is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and only 7% Merlot, it is the essence of Lafite, a fuller, riper, more concentrated, and muscular version of the 1999 and 1998. While the 2000 does not yet reveal the aromatic complexity of the 1999, it boasts layers of concentration as well as phenomenal purity and personality. The finish lasts more than a minute. It is a compelling effort (only 46% of the crop made it into Lafite) from what is undoubtedly the greatest vintage Bordeaux has enjoyed from a perspective of the number of prodigous wines produced. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050.

Well, well, well - Lafite Rothschild does it again. Ever since manager Charles Chevalier was transferred from his beloved Sauternes property of Rieussec (also owned by the Rothschilds) to Lafite in 1994, there has been a succession of profound wines to emerge from this noble estate. The 2000 Lafite Rothschild, a blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.7% Merlot (only 36% of the crop made the grade) has an opaque ruby/purple color, followed by an extraordinary aromatic expression of liquid minerals/stones interwoven with the tell-tale graphite notes, mulberry, black currants, caramel, and tobacco. In the mouth, it is remarkably light on its feet, but somehow seems to pack intense flavors into layer upon layer of fruit and richness that cascade over the palate. A compelling wine, with extraordinary precision, great intensity, and a seamlessness in spite of what are obviously elevated levels of tannin, this wine was provocatively open and beautiful when tasted in January and February, but I am sure it will soon close down. The finish lasted a whopping 72 seconds! This is utterly fascinating stuff. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2050.

The opaque purple-colored 2000 Lafite-Rothschild has put on weight. Despite the fact that it is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and only 7% Merlot, it is the essence of Lafite, a full, ripe, concentrated and muscular wine. The wine boasts layers of concentration as well as phenomenal purity and personality. The finish lasts over a minute. It is a compelling effort (only 36% of the crop made it into Lafite) from what is undoubtedly the greatest vintage Bordeaux has enjoyed from a perspective of the number of prodigious wines produced. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050.

The 2000 Lafite Rothschild contains an extremely high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (93.3%), with the balance 6.7% Merlot. A mere 36% of the crop made it into the grand vin. This is a noble, elegant Lafite. It reveals a transparency, and might be considered the archetype Lafite that was made during several of the estate's finest vintages of the fifties.

Light in style, and elegant, its compelling aromatics (black fruits, minerals, lead pencil as well as cedar) draw the taster's attention. In the mouth, this medium-bodied wine exhibits excellent concentration, a certain lightness, and beautifully pure, well-delineated, laser-like clarity to its component parts. It is a monument to finesse and elegance, a style that Lafite-Rothschild can do better than any other Bordeaux chateau. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2050.

The 2000 Lafite is darker in colour and appears less mature than the 2003. It has a glorious bouquet with very good fruit intensity: blackberry, small dark cherries, crushed stone and a touch of cedar, a quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon nose. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins: broody dark fruit, a touch of sandalwood, graphite and a hint of balsamic. It is very nicely balanced although not as powerful as expected, a wine that is perhaps gone into its shell. The finish is well defined, the graphite element coming through strongly, with a long tail of supple, primal dark fruit lingering in the mouth. Graceful and refined, this is a very assured expression of its terroir.

The 2000 Lafite-Rothschild is utterly sublime. Delicate, sensual and wonderfully nuanced, the 2000 is majestic. The purity of the fruit is simply striking.