Carruades de Lafite is the finest 'second' wine in Bordeaux.

Carruades de Lafite is the second wine of Château Lafite-Rothschild, and bears the same quality hallmarks of this grand Bordeaux château of the Haut-Médoc, but with a little more Merlot used than Lafite itself. According to James Lawther MW: "There's an element of the Lafite elegance, but this is a more supple wine for early consumption."

The wine gets its name from the Carruades plateau where some of Lafite-Rothschild's vineyards are sited and cared for with no application of chemical fertilisers and very sparse use of organic fertiliser.

"This has a deep ripe plumy nose with good definition and freshness: cedar and blackberry, a tangible sense of mineralite but tightly-coiled. A dense weighty palate, great concentration and vibrant acidity, very focused, lithe, wonderful definition with a lifted cedar finish. No frills, but masterful winemaking is afoot here." eRobertParker.com

"Having said that Carruades is a wine for earlier consumption, this looks to have more staying power. Sweet and ripe, with a good consistency of fruit and vanilla oak. A firm tannic frame and a peppery note on the finish..." James Lawther MW