100 Par James Suckling
An incredible nose, so subtle with red fruits, mint, minerals, and all sorts of flowers give way to Cohiba cigar tobacco. The palate has such freshness and density, with perfectly polished tannins. Slightly leathery, like a wonderful Hermes bag. What a wine, please leave this for another ten years. Pull the cork in 2020. 10% Merlot.
20 Par Rene Gabriel
88.8 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.7 % Merlot. 0.5 % Petit Verdot. Sehr dunkles Violett-Grand mit schwarzen Reflexen in der Mitte. Verhaltenes, noch defensives Bouquet, viel Schwarztee, Lakritze, kleine, reife schwarze Beeren, dunkles Malz und schwarze Edelhölzer, wirkt nobel aber irgendwie erst in den Startlöchern. Im Gaumenhoch fein, perfekt gegliedert, die ganze Aromatik im schwarzen Bereich, wieder Edelhölzer, Darjeeling, Teenoten, extrem konzentriert und doch fein. Irgendwie in Pauillac eine Extraklasse darstellend und momentan der absolute Leader im nördlichen Médoc. Ein dramatischer Lafite, der für sein eigenes Weingut Geschichte schreiben wird. (20/20). Der letzte Wein um Mitternacht an der Lafiteprobe in Klosters. Leuchtendes Granat mit schöner, satter Tiefe, noch lila Reflexe am Rand zeigend. Royales Bouquet, delikat, vielschichtig, hoch reifen, parfümierten Cabernet zeigend, dies in Form von Cassisnoten, Heidelbeeren und blühendem Brombeerstrauch, ein Hauch Vanillin und Caramel füllt das Nasenbild an. Im Gaumen eine zarte Versuchung des ersten Momentes, wahrlich seidige Tannine und mit Finessen, gebündeltes Finale. Selten habe ich von einem viel zu jungen Bordeaux einen derartig unbereuten, grossen Schluck getrunken. Bewegendes Jugendsünde-Erlebnis! (20/20). 17: Sattes, dunkles Rot mit immer noch blauen, ja gar violetten Reflexen. Die Nase zeigt eine geradlinige, durchgezogene Ausrichtung, perfekt mit allem Drum und Dran. Extrem dunkelbeerig; Cassis und Heidelbeeren, dann ergänzt mit vielen, noblen Hölzern, schwarzer Schokolade und feinsten Minzespuren. Der Gaumen zeigt eine sehr ausgeglichene, homogene Adstringenz bei einem perfekten Körperbau, gebündeltes, extrem langes Finale. Da ist kein einziger Makel zu finden. Ausser dem Umstand, dass er noch viel zu jung ist, obwohl der sich momentan ganz und gar nicht introvertiert gibt. Einmal in der richtigen Reife, wird sein exorbitantes Genussniveau über viele Jahrzehnte lang halten. Perfekt! (20/20).
98 Par Wine Spectator
Delivers blackberry, dried porcini, tobacco and licorice aromas. Full-bodied, with layers of velvety tannins and loads of dark chocolate, cigar box, currant, berry and mineral. The finish is long, with a coffee, almost meaty, aftertaste. Very beautiful and balanced. Best after 2013. JS
97 Par Vinous
The 2005 Lafite-Rothschild is a gorgeous wine, but it is also very young. Readers lucky enough to own it will find a very classic, gracious Lafite-Rothschild that still needs a few years to be at its best. Bright red-toned fruit, crushed rocks, mint and licorice open first, followed by darker aromas and flavors that develop as the wine gains volume with air. Tasted next to its peers, Lafite is so typical of itself and less marked by the year. And that is one of the signs of a truly great terroir. Lafite-Rothschild is not as showy as many other wines in this vintage, but it is so true to its own identity, and that is the highest compliment I can pay it. The 2005 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, done in 100% new oak, which is not at all noticeable. At the time, the Cabernet percentage was quite high, but that has now become the norm. Tasted two times.
96 Par Robert Parker
Having tasted the 2005 Château Lafite-Rothschild several times both blind and non-blind, it comes across as a First Growth politely requesting more time to "settle". Here, from an ex-château bottle tasted in Bordeaux, it delivers that graphite, pencil-box bouquet that unfurls gradually in the glass, biding its time, graceful but not intense. Parallel to some of its fellow 2005s, it is developing a little more spice, namely thyme and sage, than I recall. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, to wit, a sophisticated Pauillac that priorities elegance and poise over intensity of fruit—in keeping with Lafite Rothschild's style. You come away with the sense that it will take its time and decline, giving away a great deal in its primacy, even if it is still more approachable than the 2005 Latour for example. Therefore, I would be inclined to set this aside for several more years. Tasted November 2014.
An incredible nose, so subtle with red fruits, mint, minerals, and all sorts of flowers give way to Cohiba cigar tobacco. The palate has such freshness and density, with perfectly polished tannins. Slightly leathery, like a wonderful Hermes bag. What a wine, please leave this for another ten years. Pull the cork in 2020. 10% Merlot.
