The vintage
The beginning of the viticultural year was tricky to manage, due to a rather warm but above all wet spring. Great vigilance was required to protect the vines. Stable fine weather returned in June and continued throughout the summer. Drought even set in, interspersed in July, August and September with welcome spells of light rain. Beautiful sunshine, warm but not scorching days and fairly cool nights enabled the grapes to ripen slowly, postponing the start of the harvest until late September. Exceptionally favorable weather conditions, crowned by a harvest under the sun, for a result that will go down in history.
Harvesting took place from September 23 to October 8.
Situation
The Pauillac appellation is located on the Rive gauche of the Gironde estuary, some 40 km north of Bordeaux. Benefiting from the influence of the estuary and a great diversity of soils originating from the Massif Central and the Pyrenees, Pauillac combines exceptional climatic and geological conditions to produce great wines.
Terroir
Château Lafite Rothschild is located to the north of the Pauillac appellation, on the edge of Saint-Estèphe. The vineyard comprises three main areas: the slopes around Château, the Carruades plateau to the west and a 4.5 ha parcel in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. The surface area is 112 ha and the soils are made up of fine, deep, well-drained, well-exposed gravel mixed with Aeolian sands on a tertiary limestone subsoil.
Winemaking
Carruades de Lafite is made according to the traditional winemaking methods of Bordeaux. Alcoholic fermentation is carried out in wood, cement and stainless steel vats. Light pumping-over helps to Extra extract tannins and color. These are carried out according to the characteristics of each vat. Total maceration time is approximately 20 days.
Following malolactic fermentation, the wines are filled into French oak barrels made by Tonnellerie des Domaines to Pauillac for a maturation period of around 16 months.
Tasting
Beautiful aromatic radiance. The palate takes shape, very round at first, then showing its ripe tannins, complete structure and very fruity finish.
