Carruades de Lafite 2021

The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is a dark, brooding wine. Dense and plush, with quite a bit of tannin presence, Carruades is quite distinctive in 2021. Blue/purplish fruit and floral notes show tremendous primary intensity. Bright acids on the finish add an attractive sense of freshness that is quite appealing. The 2021 is a serious Carruades. ‘It was a year in which we had to make strong decisions,’ Technical Director Eric Kohler told me. ‘Flowering was a bit more challenging at Duhart than at Lafite. Ripeness was not the issue, but mildew pressure was high, especially now that we farm biodynamically. The most challenging period was July 15 to August 15. Yields were 30 and 33 hectoliters per hectare respectively,’ he added. As for the wines, they are brooding and quite intense. At times I felt I was tasting wines from the 1990s, but with an added dimension of purity in the fruit. Drinking Window: 2026-2041. Score – 91-93. (Antonio Galloni, vinous.com)