Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2006

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Tightly knit, as you would expect at only 9 years age, this blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot starts off with an earthy, forest floor, cedar chest, smoke, tobacco and cedar wood nose. Full bodied, structured and showing a crisp, firm, yet, elegant and ripe Cabernet Sauvignon character, with the tannins and concentration to age, this demands 10-20 more years before the fun starts."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "As so often with Lafite, it is power that marks this wine. That, and density of texture. The additional element in this vintage, and at this stage of the wine's development, is a dominant wood element. The vanilla and tannins from the wood match well with the concentrated tannins of the fruit, which is dark, dense and tight. This is a wine for long-term aging: in 15 years this will have superb richness."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London and then blind at Farr Vintners tasting. The 2006 Château Lafite-Rothschild offers impressive fruit intensity on the nose, although it does not have the precision of the 2006 Mouton-Rothschild. Red berry fruits intermingle with rose petals and sous-bois scents - very typical Lafite bouquet where less can be more. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a keen line of acidity. It is certainly very well balanced with graphite-tinged black fruit, but whereas Mouton-Rothschild possesses that peacock's tail, Lafite remains linear. Nevertheless, the sophistication really comes through here. It is a Lafite-Rothschild that may spring a few surprises down the line, one of those wines that keeps drawing you back. Understated class. Tasted April 2016."

DECANTER: "Such a rich (but keeping-it-elegant) Lafite nose. Great restraint and power here: Lafite always knows when to advance and when to retreat. This displays juicy cassis and cold ash, with perfectly worn tannins that are just starting to soften, but have so much ahead. It should maintain this level for another 30 years, whilst moving into its second, third and fourth life along the way. Drinking Window 2018 - 2040"

WINE SPECTATOR: "Plum, sweet tobacco and blackberry aromas follow through to a full body, offering a tight, chewy palate, yet with polished, refined tannins. Very long and caressing. This turns to a muscular and toned young wine. Gets better and better with age. Best after 2014."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes, fast schwarzes Granat-Violett. Komplexes, schwarzbeeriges Bouquet, dezente, parfümierte Würze, ein Hauch Kandis, Cakefrüchte, Minzespuren, Black Currant, Rauch, Leder, Trüffel, irgendwie an einen Harlan-Estate erinnernd, also mit einer Affinität zu einem ganz grossen Napa-Cabernet. Grosser Gaumenauftritt, Cabernet-Spuren ausschliesslich mit schwarzbeeriger Frucht bestückt, wieder eine dramatische Tiefe zeigend, vielschichtige, grossartige Adstringenz, schwarze Kakaobohnen, Korinthen, viel Lakritze, Gerbstoffe (noch) etwas trocken, vielleicht auch etwas hart anmutend, dem beruhigenden Wein aber ein gigantisches Alterungspotenzial verleihend. Kein besonders feiner, eher ein sehr reservierter Pauillac. Und noch selten war ein Lafite einem Latour vom Geschmack her so nahe."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefes Rubingranat, schwarzer Kern, violette Reflexe. In der Nase zart tabakig unterlegtes dunkles Beerenkonfit, noch sehr verschlossenes Bukett, etwas Bitterschoko. Am Gaumen sehr monolithisch, feine Cassisanklänge, frische Säurestruktur, die Tannine bilden einen mauerartigen Block, der Wein wirkt komplex, gleichzeitig sehr abweisend, ist von einer Strenge geprägt, die eher an Latour erinnert, zarte Röstaromen im Nachhall, braucht sicher viel Zeit, hat aber ein sehr gutes Reifepotenzial. Im Moment im Finish noch etwas austrocknend. ! Lagern"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Very rich and lively and gamey. Thick and solid. Set for the long term. Tough tannins on the end but admirably fresh."