2017 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Description
Drink Date 2024 - 2057
Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Lafite Rothschild is deep garnet-purple colored. It opens slowly, cautiously with restrained notes of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries, warm blackcurrants and wild blueberries, followed by emerging notions of smoked meats, fragrant earth, crushed rocks and lilacs with touches of cast-iron pan and Marmite toast. Medium-bodied, the palate is deceptively light and quite ethereal on entry, growing in the mouth to reveal elegant layers of energetic red and black fruits with tons of savory accents. Framed by exquisitely ripe, wonderfully fine-grained tannins, it has exhilarating freshness and a very long, hypnotically perfumed finish. On a final note, the alcohol here is a jaw-dropping 12.5%, which is something of a miracle considering the ripeness of the Cabernet. A total head-turner, I cannot wait to follow the development of this wine!
- Alcohol %: 12.8%
- Decant Time: 60-120 minutes
- Taste: blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar, graphite, leather, mint, tobacco, minerality, fresh acidity, polished tannins, finesse, savory, spice
- Food Matching: Steak frites, Ribeye steak, Beef Wellington, Roast venison, Aged hard cheeses
- Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon : 96.0%, Merlot : 3.5%, Petit Verdot : 0.5%,
Tasting note
品飲筆記：酒色深濃，香氣內斂而有層次，前調以深色果實為主，逐漸吐出雪松、石墨、薄荷與微妙的皮革氣息。入口集中爽脆，酸度清新，單寧細緻但有力，礦物感與香草橡木相映，餘韻悠長。 酒莊與田地：拉菲酒莊位居波雅克的礫石高地，112公頃的葡萄園分布於城堡周圍、Carruades 高原以及鄰近的 Saint-Estèphe 小地塊。礫石覆蓋於石灰岩下層，排水良好、日照充足，造就酒款的礦性與結構感。 釀造與陳年：葡萄於九月中下旬採收後，酒液在100%法國新橡木桶中陳釀18至20個月。釀造重視精準萃取與細緻的桶味整合，追求的是耐儲存的優雅而非浮誇的果香。 口感建議：口感上屬集中而優雅的類型，單寧有支撐但打磨細膩，酸度帶動整體節奏，適合醒酒一至兩小時讓香氣展開。搭配建議：烤牛排、烤羔羊、野味或陳年硬質起司最能襯托它的深度與層次。語氣輕鬆地說，它是那種值得慢慢喝、耐人尋味的經典波爾多。
Tasting Note: Deep, dark colour with a reserved but promising nose. Aromas of blackcurrant and black cherry are joined by cedar, graphite and a hint of mint and tobacco. On the palate the wine is intense and vibrant — concentrated yet elegantly composed, displaying fresh acidity, polished fine-grained tannins and a long, mineral-tinged finish. Producer Notes: From the First Growth estate of Château Lafite Rothschild, the 2017 reveals the house’s classic balance of finesse and concentration. The vintage benefited from an early flowering and a steady ripening period; the Grand Vin was made from selected parcels and reflects the property’s characteristic restraint and longevity. Winemaking Notes: Fermented and matured for 18–20 months in 100% new French oak, the wine shows careful extraction and oak integration. The winemaking approach here favours precision — gentle extraction, extended élevage and selection of the best lots to produce a wine built for the long term. Vineyard Notes: Lafite’s 112 hectares sit on fine deep gravels over limestone, spread across slopes around the château, the Carruades plateau and a small lot in Saint-Estèphe. Well-drained, sun-exposed gravel soils give wines with pronounced mineral spine and classic Pauillac structure. Service & Cellaring: Best appreciated after decanting (about 1–2 hours) if young; offers a long drinking window well into mid-century but already shows alluring early charm. Serve at 16–18°C. Food pairings include grilled ribeye, beef Wellington, roasted game and mature hard cheeses.
Winery
拉菲酒莊（Château Lafite Rothschild）是波爾多最具代表性的頭等酒莊之一，由羅斯柴爾德家族（Barons de Rothschild）擁有。酒莊重視園地管理與嚴格分級，葡萄園多為深礫石與石灰岩地質，排水與光照條件極佳。釀造上採用精細的選果，並以100%新法國橡木桶陳年，追求耐陳、優雅與細緻的風格。
Château Lafite Rothschild — one of Bordeaux’s historic First Growth estates — has for centuries been associated with elegance, restraint and longevity. Owned by the Barons de Rothschild and managed under experienced winemaking teams, the estate farms 112 hectares on fine gravel soils and focuses on meticulous selection, traditional élevage and barrel ageing that produce wines of finesse and ageing potential.