2017 Carruades de Lafite

Just as it was from barrel, the 2017 Carruades de Lafite is ample and rich on the palate. Succulent dark cherry, lavender, spice and plum all fill out the wine's frame effortlessly. In 2017, Carruades is especially resonant and creamy, with notable richness and volume. I expect the 2017 will drink well with just a few years in bottle.

The 2017 Carruades de Lafite is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it prances out of the glass with joyful notions of black cherries, redcurrant jelly and cassis plus hints of kirsch, cedar chest, pencil lead and a waft of raspberry leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate possesses bags of poise and freshness, dishing out lots of bright red and black fruits with a soft, finely grained frame, finishing long with a skip in its step.

The 2017 Carruades de Lafite has a pleasant bouquet with brambly black fruit intermingling with damp earth and light tobacco aromas. Maybe it would benefit from a little more precision. The palate is well balanced with a saline tang on the entry. This is a little "chunky" at the moment, maybe missing the finesse of the 2016, although I appreciate the briny influence that surfaces towards the finish. Fine, although not the best second wine that I have tasted from this First Growth.