Carruades de Lafite Pauillac 2015 750ml

Carruades de Lafite is the second wine of Château Lafite Rothschild, an 1855 First Growth in Pauillac. It is named after the Carruades plateau west of the château, one of the estate's three main vineyard areas, with fine deep gravel and wind-blown sand over limestone.

The 2015 is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. The estate ferments in wooden, concrete and steel vats with about 20 days of maceration, then ages the wine about 16 months in French oak barrels from its own cooperage. Wine Spectator puts production at about 20,000 cases.

The estate describes deep colour, a fruity nose and a powerful, round palate with a very good tannic finish and balanced wood. James Suckling notes silky tannins and a refined finish, Wine Enthusiast finds layers of black-currant fruit and acidity, and Jeb Dunnuck cites cassis and lead pencil shavings.

Against Chateau Pavie 2015, Carruades is the Cabernet-led, more restrained Pauillac; for classic Left Bank structure from 2015, choose Carruades.

Wine Spectator's window runs 2022 to 2030. Decant it an hour ahead.

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