B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
Representing the upper echelon in the Bordeaux hierarchy, these top scoring vintages from two iconic First Growth estates are guaranteed not to disappoint, whether it’s the “complexity, finesse and longevity” of Chateau Lafite Rothschild according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson or the signature “explosive depth” and “breathtaking purity of flavor” of Chateau Haut-Brion according to Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, another terrific opportunity to fill in the cellar with 100 pt. gems or treat yourself to the one of a kind pleasures that only First Growth Bordeaux can deliver in every vintage at best on the market pricing.
Spanning 112 hectares as the largest holding among the First Growths, the vineyards of Chateau Lafite Rothschild are located on rolling slopes of gravel up to ten meters deep in Pauillac, planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with less than half of the total production making the final cut and aged for 18-20 months in new French oak barrels made at the estate’s onsite cooperage.Exhibiting Lafite’s “undeniable class and charm” according to Jeb Dunnuck, these top scoring selections range from the refined 100 pt. 2015 Chateau Lafite Rothschild that's just entering its realm of approachability, described by Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson as “a truly classic Lafite” that’s “understated and lyrical” to the magnificent triple 100 pt. 2020 Chateau Lafite Rothschild promising to "hit its 100th birthday in fine form” according to Jeb Dunnuck, every vintage revealing intensely aromatic, concentrated dark fruit with textbook graphite notes and layered silky tannins promising decades of longevity. Set among the contemporary suburbs of the city of Bordeaux, Chateau Haut-Brion’s vineyards for the red Grand Vin span 50 hectares in Pessac-Leognan, planted almost evenly with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small parcels of Cab Franc and Petit Verdot in a complex terroir ranging from limestone to sand to 18-meter-deep gravels interspersed with deep clay, the Grand Vin aged in mostly new French oak barrels for 22 months. With every vintage boasting its legendary ability to age, these thrilling selections range from the plush 100 pt. 2009 Chateau Haut-Brion offering the estate’s signature ripe, opulent fruit elegantly balancing massive tannins to the 100 pt. 2020 Chateau Haut-Brion declared "a legend in the making” by Jeb Dunnuck and “ready to shine as the centerpiece of your collection for the next 40+ years” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson.
A treasure trove of exceptional First Growths that will make it hard to choose, these top scoring blends from Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Haut-Brion range fromsome with over a decade of cellaring to more recent vintages requiring patient cellaring, all promising a thrilling evolution for decades to come and delivered in perfect provenance at best on the market pricing. |