PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Few wines carry the weight of the year 2000 the way Lafite does. The Millennium vintage was a great one across Bordeaux, and Château Lafite Rothschild’s wine from that year is widely considered one of the finest of its generation, the one many critics say “could well be the longest-lived of the Pauillac first growths.” It’s a blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.7% Merlot, and only 36% of the harvest was selected for the Grand Vin, a rigorous selection that also explains its concentration and its purity. It was made at 12.5% ABV.
Critics have followed this wine for a quarter century, and the verdicts are remarkably consistent. Wine Enthusiast scored it 99: “Perhaps of all the first growths in the totally un-classic 2000, this retains most of the classic Bordeaux. This could well be the longest-lived of the Pauillac first growths. The wine is rich, medium to full-bodied, but has that ethereal elegance and purity that is always Lafite.” Wine Spectator scored it 98 in a blind retrospective of the 2000 Bordeaux in December 2015: “This is remarkably young, with a deep well of succulent black currant, fig and blackberry fruit notes that feel 10 years younger than most peers, carried by wave upon wave of velvety tannins. Despite the density and heft, there’s glorious length and finesse too, with alluring black tea, smoldering charcoal and warm paving stone notes just starting to emerge. Awesome wine.” Robert Parker scored it 96. Wine-Searcher’s aggregation of 18 critic reviews averages 97/100. International Wine Cellar described “flamboyantly perfumed aromas of cassis, graphite and tobacco, lifted by a floral nuance and stony minerality,” “very young and precise but not austere or forbidding,” and “a remarkably rich, silky, seamless Lafite with superb vibrancy for the vintage.” Another critic’s note says: “The past 5-6 years have added a lot here. 2000 is bottled elegance... one of the few vintages of Lafite that is better on the palate than it is on the nose.” The château’s own notes describe “very dark color with hints of purple” and aromas that are “sumptuous and captivating, both powerful and extremely delicate on the palate, with remarkable tannic structure and length.”
At 25-plus years old, this is now a wine for a landmark occasion. It is approachable but still youthful, with decades ahead of it, and it deserves a careful decant, since older bottles may carry sediment. For collectors, a vintage-dated First Growth from the year 2000 is a milestone bottle.
Château Lafite Rothschild 2000 is produced at Château Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, a First Growth (Premier Cru Classé) in the 1855 classification. The 2000 is a blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.7% Merlot, with only 36% of the total harvest used for the Grand Vin. 12.5% ABV, 750ml.
Wine Enthusiast — 99 Points:
“Perhaps of all the first growths in the totally un-classic 2000, this retains most of the classic Bordeaux. This could well be the longest-lived of the Pauillac first growths. The wine is rich, medium to full-bodied, but has that ethereal elegance and purity that is always Lafite.”
Wine Spectator — 98 Points (blind 2000 Bordeaux retrospective, December 2015):
“This is remarkably young, with a deep well of succulent black currant, fig and blackberry fruit notes that feel 10 years younger than most peers, carried by wave upon wave of velvety tannins. Despite the density and heft, there’s glorious length and finesse too, with alluring black tea, smoldering charcoal and warm paving stone notes just starting to emerge. Awesome wine.”
Robert Parker — 96 Points
Château Lafite Rothschild (official notes):
“Very dark color with hints of purple. The aromas are sumptuous and captivating, both powerful and extremely delicate on the palate, with remarkable tannic structure and length.”
Nose
Deep ruby with purple hints. Cassis, graphite, cigar-box tobacco, and cedar, with violets, cool stones, and mint.
Palate
Rich, silky, and seamless, with black currant, fig, and blackberry, with layers of sweet red fruit, black tea, and charcoal, and velvety, noble tannin.
Finish
Very long and aristocratic, fresh and mineral, with decades still ahead.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France |
| Classification | Premier Cru Classé (First Growth), 1855 |
| Blend | 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon · 6.7% Merlot |
| Vintage | 2000 (the Millennium vintage) |
| Producer | Château Lafite Rothschild |
| Selection | Only 36% of the harvest in the Grand Vin |
| ABV | 12.5% |
| Critics | Wine Enthusiast 99 · Wine Spectator 98 · Robert Parker 96 · Wine-Searcher average 97/100 |
| Style / Identity | A legendary, elegant, long-lived First Growth from a landmark vintage, now in its first great window |
| Aromas & Flavors | Cassis, graphite, cedar, tobacco, violets, cool stones |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Stand upright for a day before serving, then decant carefully off any sediment; serve at about 62-65°F.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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