Chateau Lafite-Rothschild 2002

A brilliant offering and a candidate for wine of the vintage, this is classic Lafite that reminded me somewhat of 1976, although the vintage conditions were completely different. This is a medium-weight, quintessentially elegant style of Lafite with notes of lead pencil shavings/graphite along with black currants, plums, and crushed rocks/mineral. Wonderfully pure, dense, with a deep ruby/purple color and loads of fruit, definition, and a long finish, this is a brilliant, elegant Lafite Rothschild that builds incrementally in the mouth and has more power and density than it initially seems. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.

Bubbling over with crushed berries, currants and spices, with tobacco notes. Beautiful. Full-bodied, with gorgeously velvety tannins and a long finish of pretty fruit. This is a racy yet elegant Lafite. Classy. Best after 2010. 16,000 cases made.

Another Indian summer vintage (with useful northerly winds) that followed a difficult July and August. This has still-tight tannins and remains deep in colour, with just the very beginnings of whispering its age. After a few minutes in the glass, cigar notes curl up and out, followed by beautifully elegant, savoury-edged black fruit and tea leaf notes. This was extremely austere at first, but it's now beginning to soften and is likely to develop similarly to the 1999, which makes it one to watch. Will reward further cellaring.

The Indian summer, this great weather in early autumn, once again saved a vintage that stirred deep emotions in us passionate winegrowers. We had known since May that the crop would not be large, as flowering had taken place under cold, damp conditions, favouring poor fruit set and uneven ripening. The heat in June had raised our hopes, quickly dashed by a grey and rainy July and August. In early September, therefore, the Bordelais were not very confident. But long live the Indian summer, which accompanied the final ripening of the grapes under exceptional conditions! This was our first mystery vintage, served blind. I initially guessed 2001, largely because I had completely put 2002 out of my mind. Very rich and nuanced on the nose, then there was an impression of sweet ink, before sweet, soft fruit that almost covers the perceptible tannins that impart a slightly drying finish. The acidity is a little obvious. Just slightly pinched and awkward at the moment and the balance is less than perfect, but it’s very good for a 2002! (JR)

The 2002 Lafite-Rothschild is surprisingly dark in colour. It also has a surprisingly concentrated bouquet with blackberry, sous-bois and brine. Hints of steaming cups of espresso percolate through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a little chewiness on the entry. Quite briny and saline, a little rustic in terms of tannic profile and perhaps only on the finish do the limitations of the growing season show. Tasted at the château.

Still youthful, the wine is on the bright, crisp, crunchy side of the style range. The red berries are quite vibrant, with a mint, herb, tobacco, and cedar coating on the palate, and in the sweet, and tart, cherry, cranberry, olive, herb, and citrus finish. This is quite classic in an old-school style. Drink from 2024-2042.

Dark garnet, ruby rim. Subtly milky bouquet, wonderfully sweet with ripe red plums, sandalwood and cassis. Velvety palate with very pleasant, almost plush tannins, still slightly upfront, but this also points to a remarkable potential for the modest 2002 vintage.

03: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.5% Merlot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc. More than half of the harvest downgraded: very deep, dense garnet with purple and black highlights. Delicate, subtle, finely layered bouquet, not as bombastic as Mouton, not as deep as Latour, yet already showing feminine, highly refined contours on the nose, notes of rock candy, Darjeeling tea, vanilla pod and discreetly sweet noble wood. On the palate, one of the very best, finest wines of the vintage; the tannins are silky, yet the aromatics are extremely profound, ranging from blackberry to truffle; again bourbon and vanilla notes, dried walnuts, tobacco and currants in the long, majestic finish. A Lafite that may one day resemble its own 1985 in an even more perfect form. (19/20). 06: With René Schmidlin in Javea (Spain). Profound, dark-berried, rosewood, smoke, tar; still far too young and yet – at least for now – already a dream. Based on this impression, I immediately bought a few more large-format bottles. (19/20). 11: Dark garnet, ruby rim. Discreetly milky bouquet, wonderfully sweet with ripe red plums, sandalwood and cassis. Velvety palate with very pleasant, almost plush-like tannins; still slightly front-loaded, but that also points to the remarkable potential for a 2002 (rather modest vintage…). (18/20). 12: Very dark, strikingly deep color, no signs of maturity yet. The nose is currently very discreet: fine woods, coffee, red cassis; needs plenty of air; noble, ripe Cabernet accents and a hint of lemon thyme that delicately refreshes the aromatic profile. Firm, compact palate, showing plenty of flesh and fine-grained tannins, which do suit a Premier but (still) not quite this vintage; the astringency demands a lot more patience. So definitely not a 2002 gastro variant.

Fresh, fragrant, floral, silky bouquet with blueberries, blackcurrant, rock sugar and vanilla powder. Fruity, sweet, easy-drinking, fresh palate with slightly powdery tannins, sweet fruit, fragrant aromatics, long and full finish. 18/20 drink - 2028

Admirable, cedar-tinged signature nose, ultra-refined texture, incomparable tannin grain, all the charm of the intermediate vintages of the Premiers when the selection is rigorous.

Logo on the cork: The crown This is not the best cork in the world sealing this bottle. The previous one, tasted in 2013, sealed by the same cork maker, taken from the same case, stored in the same place, only scored 16.25 (91) as this type of cork showed a recurring tendency to dry out on the finish. But that’s not the case here. Beautiful color, still looking young. Intense, delicate nose with ripe, subtle fruit. Airy palate, particularly fruity, smooth, melting, flavorful, with fine tannins. A behavior typical of the best of Lafite. It’s delicious and impossible to spit. For those who bought it en Primeur, it was a very good deal.