Heir to a legendary terroir, Carruades de Lafite 2022 is aimed at enthusiasts of great Pauillac seeking intensity without ostentation, a silky mouthfeel and depth that unfolds over the years. As the second wine of Château Lafite Rothschild, it shares the estate’s aesthetic: pure fruit, aristocratic straightness, serene length. Where some second wines favour ease, this 2022 asserts a clear stature, a mineral tension and vibrant energy. It answers a specific demand: a Bordeaux that combines immediate appeal with the promise of evolution, able to illuminate a fine-dining menu as well as settle gracefully in a carefully built cellar. Its classic style, marked by the noble signatures of Pauillac, suggests a long conversation between restrained power and grace, with the polite reserve typical of great left-bank wines.

Assemblage et vinification

The 2022 blend reflects a carefully orchestrated balance: approximately 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in wooden, concrete and stainless-steel vats, with gentle pump-overs to preserve fine tannin grain and aromatic brightness, followed by a maceration of about twenty days to extract colour and tannins with precision. Maturation is carried out for around 16 to 20 months in French oak barrels, with a small proportion of new wood; the barrels come from the Tonnellerie des Domaines in Pauillac. This measured ageing builds structure without disguising the fruit, maintaining the wine’s fresh, upright signature. Technically, the 2022 sits at roughly 13.7% alcohol with a pH close to 3.7 to 3.75, ensuring balance between richness and sapidity. The increased presence of Merlot, combined with the Carruades plateau, brings sensuality of texture and relative approachability in youth, while preserving the verticality of Cabernet. Production remains limited at estate level, around a few tens of thousands of cases per year, which reinforces the rarity and appeal of this characterful wine.

Notes de dégustation

• Colour: Deep and luminous, announcing composed concentration and a great purity of expression.
• Nose: Plush blackcurrant, fresh raspberry and a hint of mint blend with noble notes of blond tobacco, cedar, graphite and forest floor, in a savoury and precise complexity.
• Palate: Broad entry, silky texture, taut freshness. The tannins, firm yet delicately woven, support a core of dark fruit, lifted by fine spices and a persistent floral thread. Long, direct and savoury finish.

Température de service et conseils

Serve Carruades de Lafite 2022 at around 15 to 16°C to preserve its aromatic finesse and definition. In its early years, a subtle, brief and measured decant can help to unveil fruit and spice nuances without forcing the structure. For cellaring, wait 3 to 4 years before opening to soften the outlines, then follow its development over a decade and beyond according to your cellar. Consistent storage, protected from light, will allow the wine to reveal its multiple layers gradually: freshness, depth and velvety texture.

Accords mets et vin

• Grilled or roasted red meats: côte de bœuf, dry-aged ribeye, herb-crusted lamb fillet.
• Game and robust dishes: wild duck, pheasant, reduced jus, mushroom sauce.
• Aged cheeses: sheep's tomme, aged Comté, mature cheddar that converse with the noble cedar and tobacco framework.
• Seasonal gastronomy: porcini risotto, roasted root vegetables, wine reductions that highlight minerality.
• Special occasions: precision pairings during a curated meal, where each course reveals a facet of the wine.

Moments de dégustation

Carruades de Lafite 2022 will be the natural companion to a fine-dining dinner where nuance is celebrated, to a reception where elegance is measured by refined details, or as a distinguished gift for a connaisseur. It also has its place in a collector’s cellar seeking a refined Pauillac capable of graceful development. Finally, it will elevate a Sunday roast of meats, creating a suspended moment with a wine that is both vibrant and measured.

Caractéristiques

• Nom: Carruades de Lafite 2022
• Appellation: Pauillac AOC
• Type: Red wine
• Millésime: 2022
• Cépages: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
• Degré d’alcool: around 13.7%
• Élevage: 16 to 20 months in French oak barrels, small proportion of new oak
• Garde: wait 3 to 4 years minimum, great aging potential
• Température de service: 15 to 16°C