Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, the Lafite Rothschild 2017 is a deep garnet purple colored. It opens slowly, gently with understated notes of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries, warm black currants and wild blueberries, followed by emerging notions of smoked meat, fragrant earth, crushed rocks and lilacs. Medium-bodied at the root but grows on the palate to reveal elegant layers of energetic red and black fruit with many savory touches. Framed by beautifully ripe, wonderfully fine-grained tannins, it has an exciting freshness and a very long, hypnotic perfumed finish. Finally, the alcohol here is an overwhelming 12.5%, which is a miracle given the Cabernet's maturity. A winner (99/100 Parker & 98/100 Suckling).
