2003 Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Premier Grand Cru Classé

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Description

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The 2003 Lafite Rothschild is not just any vintage; it's a 100-point Parker vintage, comparable to the great Lafite Rothschild 1959. Along with Latour, Lafite Rothschild is the biggest name in Bordeaux on the Left Bank. It's the most elegant of the five Premier Crus and the most sought-after worldwide. We were able to purchase several cases as Late Releases directly from the Lafite Rothschild cellars. A unique opportunity to cellar this legendary wine, aged for over 20 years, in superb condition.

The 2003 Lafite belongs to the select group of wines awarded a 100-point rating. The 2003 Lafite Rothschild was bottled in mid-May 2005, after reaching 12.9% natural alcohol. The wine is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. This is a rich and ripe Lafite-Rothschild. Dense purple in color, it displays classic notes of graphite interwoven with melted licorice, crème de cassis, tobacco, and flowers. It displays exceptional richness, complexity, purity, intensity, and viscosity. The wine has very firm tannins that will melt with age, ensuring a beautiful drinking window.

FACT: The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount . You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.

IMPORTANT: As with all our wines, we always buy directly from the importer or chateau and then ship them directly to our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse.

Specifications

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Available as of Sep 2, 2025
Packing information Box
Type of Wine Red
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Appellation Pauillac
Icons Icon France
Winery Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Grape Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Biological certified No
Natural wine No
Vegan No
Vintage 2003
Drinking as of 2018
Drinking till 2041
Alcohol % 13
Alcohol free/low No
Content 0.75 ltr
Oak aging Yes
Sparkling No
Dessert wine No
Closure Cork
Parker rating 100
James Suckling rating 98
Vinous rating 96
Tasting Profiles Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Tannines
Drink moments Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard

Professional Reviews

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Parker

100

James Suckling

98

Vinous

96

Wijnhuis

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The vineyard of Château Lafite Rothschild consists of three main areas: The slopes around the Château, the Carruades plateau to the west and a 4.5 hectare site in Saint-Estèphe. Its area is 112 hectares. The soil consists of fine, deeply ground mixed with windblown sand on a well-drained and well-incorporated tertiary limestone subsoil. The grape varieties grown here are Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Here the first stones were laid, the winegrowers' houses were built and prepared for something unusual to happen. As the years passed, the house overlooking this hill got bigger and a wisteria vine climbed the walls of generations of families to see how preserving this ecosystem has always been the ultimate priority. 150 years ago, Baroness Betty, wife of Baron James, planted the huge oak trees that separate our vineyard from the marshes. They, their children and grandchildren, the families of winegrowers die with them, work conscientiously to protect this impeccable creation that has been bequeathed to nature. They have taken great care to preserve this microcosm of forests and marshes, flora and fauna amidst the vines of Château Lafite Rothschild thrive in this almost wild osmosis.

As the ultimate witness to this protected land, some of the vines still gracefully show off their 140 years of ungrafted life. They escaped the phylloxera which, however, spared no one else! This infallible part of the vines continues to elude the winegrowers, the same ones who form, protect and nurture it, from one harvest year to the next, trying to refine this perfect composition that amazes them time and time again. It may not be a coincidence, of course, that Lafite earned the title of "First of the First" at Napoleon III's World's Fair. Nor will it be a coincidence, if others will speak of it long after us… Each barrel is tasted individually and only the best is selected for the final blend. After blending, the wine matures for 15 months in new oak barrels. Fermentation takes place for 15 days at a controlled temperature of 18°C. Only vines older than 10 years are used for the Grand Vin Château Lafite Rothschild. While each vintage is unique, there is usually a large portion of Cabernet Sauvignon, then Merlot, with a small contribution of Petit Verdot.

Attachments

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