La récolte des rouges a débuté fin septembre, l'essentiel des vendanges s'effectuant début octobre. Le tri a joué un rôle essentiel : la véraison (le changement de couleur des raisins) s'est déroulée en deux temps, ce qui a entraîné des variations de maturité au sein même des grappes ; seuls les meilleurs fruits ont ainsi été sélectionnés. La vinification s'est déroulée parcelle par parcelle dans des cuves en bois, en acier inoxydable et en ciment.
Le résultat est un Lafite aux proportions classiques. Le degré d'alcool est resté modéré, le pH bas, et le vin présente cette structure fraîche et droite que Pauillac produit lorsque le cabernet mûrit lentement. Ce n'est pas un millésime spectaculaire. Mais c'est un millésime précis.
Robert Parker (95)
The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild, tasted with head winemaker Eric Kohler, has retained that very opulent and outgoing bouquet that dare I say actually reminded me of Mouton-Rothschild. There are layers of blackberry and boysenberry fruit, still that hint of juniper berry, certainly a more extrovert Lafite-Rothschild compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very focused and quite linear, again with plenty of black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco. It begins to clam up towards the saline finish, suggesting that it will need several years in bottle, but I still have high expectations for this First Growth once afforded several years in bottle.
James Suckling (98)
The aromas of stones, oyster shell, blackcurrants and mushrooms are very intense. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with lots of blackberries. Great finish. Super energy and depth.
Jancis Robinson (17)
Tasted blind. Youthfully dark colour. Sweet dark fruit and tea leaves. That sweetness of fruit seems a touch raisined. Juicy, relatively light-bodied so that the tannins are starting to dry on the finish, or do they just need more time? Hard to tell. (JH)
Vinous (92)
The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild has a typically refined nose at first, though I notice that it gains more richness after five minutes and replicates the menthol scents that I noticed in the previous bottle four years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, fleshy and ripe. White pepper and fennel infuse the red fruit. Perhaps it doesn't quite "kick on" towards the finish like Mouton, though it does feel reassuringly persistent. Maybe it has something up its sleeve? A second bottle tasted blind at Southwold was a bit "aloof". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting.
BOW (9-)
Sealed OWC releases direct from Chateau, March 2026.
