EN PRIMEUR Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1. Cru Classé Pauillac 2025 i trälåda

The Drinks Business

(Pauillac; 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot; a final yield of 27 hl/ha; pH 3.70; 12.5% ABV; tasted with Eric Kohler at Duhart-Milon). The extremely high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend should not deceive – it's actually around the average for the last 10 years. This is staggeringly beautiful, cool and haunting as I somehow knew it would be. It captures the essence of the vintage better than any other single wine. The attack is utterly sublime, just divine, with a touch of violet alongside the intense but soft, subtle and delicate dark berry fruits. There's plungepool clarity and freshness in its shimmering depth and great concentration at the core. A wine of breathtaking potential but also one that is brilliantly accessible. Long and gently tapering on the finish with the return of those hauntingly beautiful violet notes. Un Lafite absolu! A wine that breaks my scoring system; it couldn't be anything other than 100 points.

Jean-Marc Quarin

James Suckling

Intense aromas of sweet tobacco, dark cedar, cigar humidor, mushroom, roses, and wet earth follow through to a medium to full body with firm, velvety tannins and a driven, intense finish. Very structured with bones. Reminds me of Lafite from the 1980s. Unique for the vintage. 12.5% alcohol. A blend of 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 1% petit verdot.

Alexandre Ma

Without doubt, the 2025 vintage will stand as a defining highlight in the history of Château Lafite Rothschild. Here, power, elegance, purity, and restraint coexist within a single, harmonious space. The nose opens with blackcurrant and black goji berry, vivid and precise yet softly shrouded beneath a veil of agarwood-like smoke, shaping an aromatic landscape that feels both profound and dreamlike. What lingers most is its almost monochrome expression on the palate: tannins, dark as ink, lay down a deep, shadowed canvas, while the freshness of acidity and the clarity of fruit emerge like light breaking through. From this interplay of contrast alone, a richly layered and dimensional world unfolds, each sip drawing you deeper, until you are fully immersed.

Vinous

The standout in Pauillac and contender for wine of the vintage is Lafite-Rothschild, which overflows with the same elegant grandeur as the 1953, 1959 or 1982 ... The 2025 Lafite-Rothschild was cropped at 27 hl/ha between September 2 and 20. Eric Kohler mentioned that, unlike 2022, it underwent a longer maceration than usual because, after 24 days, he felt the wine was at ease with itself and there was no excess. That comes through completely on the deliriously intoxicating nose, replete with nuanced blackberry, bilberry and estuarine scents, all beautifully defined and seamlessly integrated with the 90% new oak that is made from Lafite’s own cooper. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins. It is blessed with extraordinary harmony and it is so well balanced that you almost overlook the weight and

Lisa Perotti Brown

Intense, Bright, Black Fruit, Earthy, Forest Floor, Licorice, Light bodied, Refreshing Acidity, Subtle Oak, Silky Texture, High Tannin, Needs Time

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Cuban cigars, cedar, crème de cassis, blackberries, flowers, espresso, and forest leaves set the wine's perfume. Refined, elegant, precise, and pure, the fruit tastes as if it were just pulled from the vines. Expressive, vibrant, long, and packed with blackberries, currants, Indian spices, tobacco, and marine influences, the seamless, graceful finish does not want to quit, passing the 60-second mark with ease. One of the most important parts of the growing season took place starting in June and running through July 10. Climatically, it was hot and dry. The midsummer rains following that dry period provided much-needed nourishment, aiding ripeness and contributing to the style and success of the vintage. The wine is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. 12.5% ABV. Picking took place September 2 - September 20. Yields were low at 27 hectoliters per hectare. 48% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2032 - 2075.

Markus del Monego MW

Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet with an opaque core, violet reflections, and a delicate brightening at the rim. Floral touch with hints of roses, dark forest berries, candied violets, delicate licorice, and a touch of velour; a multifaceted and inviting bouquet. Juicy and elegant on the palate, with red cherries, subtle notes of currants, fine silky tannins, a hint of lime, and salty minerality. Delicate, full of finesse, and long-lasting, with reliable aging potential. Lafite absolu.