Chateau Lafite-Rothschild 2015

The 2015 vintage arrived in Bordeaux after an exceptional growing season—warm, dry, with ideal ripening conditions that allowed Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve full phenolic maturity across the Left Bank. Château Lafite-Rothschild's 2015 represents the estate's signature expression from this celebrated year.

Terroir: Lafite's 112-hectare vineyard sits on the gravelly plateau of Pauillac's northern sector, where deep Günz gravel overlays clay-limestone subsoil. Elevation ranges 25–35 meters; the southeast-facing aspect captures morning sun and benefits from the Gironde estuary's moderating influence. This drainage-favoring geology has defined the estate's house style for four centuries.

Composition & Production: The 2015 blend centers on Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), with Merlot (7%), Cabernet Franc (3%), and Petit Verdot (1%). Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled concrete and wooden vats; malolactic conversion in barrel. The wine aged 18 months in French oak (50% new), a restrained cooperage regimen that allows primary fruit and terroir minerality to dominate over oak spice.

Special Feature: The 2015 demonstrates Lafite's classical restraint—a wine built for the cellar rather than immediate consumption. Tannin structure is fine-grained and persistent, reflecting the vintage's ideal phenolic ripeness and the estate's preference for extended skin contact over extraction.

Drinking Window: 2025–2055. The wine is approachable now but will continue to evolve and integrate for two decades.