The aromas of Lafite in 2013 are complex and fascinating with cigar box, Spanish cedar, and dark fruit. Hints of hot stone. Full body, chewy tannins yet very polished and refined. Solid density on the palate. Very long and impressive. This needs three to five years to open. Very impressive for the vintage. – jamessuckling.com, Feb 2016

Aromatically restrained at present, with lurking blackcurrant fruit but moderate lift and zest. More weight and concentration on the palate, which shows both juiciness and light tannins. The lowish alcohol ensures a youthful austerity and this is one of the few 2013s that should improve, though it will never dazzle. Long finish. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2028
Tasted by: Stephen Brook (at London, 02 Feb 2023)
Part of Bordeaux 2013: 10 years on & 30 wines tasted

Quality 853 | Brand 999 | Economics 979 | buzz brand, investment staple
Quality: Predicted life of 16 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group, which averages 9 years Brand: #2 Most sought after wine globally, with 87,284 searches on Wine-Searcher per month Economics: #3 most active wine at auction, its top 5 vintages having seen 4,733 75cl equivalent bottles traded in the past year Production: Higher production than its peer group average of 151,058 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Features a charcoal coating, along with singed bay and tobacco leaf notes, melding pleasantly with the core of lightly steeped black currant and bitter plum fruit. Shows ample length and depth, with the grip striding through the finish. This should be among the long-lived wines of this modest vintage. Best from 2018 through 2028. 16,000 cases made. – James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, March 2016)

The 2013 Lafite hits the palate with a burst of dark red and purple fruit. White flowers, mint and licorice all develop in the glass, adding layers of depth and complexity. Smoke, tar, cinnamon, graphite, dried violets and plums are all layered into the resonant finish. The style is up-front, textured and generous, with no hard edges and plenty of near to medium-term potential. The blend is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot. Tasted twice.

(98% cabernet sauvignon and 2% merlot): Medium red-ruby. Very precise, pure, flinty raspberry and coffee aromas are complicated by an intense violet note. Then almost steely in the mouth, with a bright, juicy personality to the flavors of red berries, plum, graphite and minerals. This struck me as quite mouthfilling without being at all heavy. Finishes with building but smooth tannins and a lovely lingering strawberry sweetness. General director Charles Chevalier said "I went looking for fruit this year by harvesting as late as feasible, which of course meant that due to rot we made even less wine than projected, but I think we were able to achieve more fruit in this manner. I may have to decrease the time this wine will spend aging in oak but I don't know yet." When I mentioned to Chevallier that I couldn't remember the last time a vintage of Lafite had so much cabernet sauvignon, he promptly answered: "Few people know, but in 1994 the final blend was an unbelievable 99% cabernet sauvignon and 1% petit verdot; this year we just had to get rid of most of the merlot, because even at 3% or 4% of the total it was obviously only diluting the whole."

The 2013 Lafite-Rothschild is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and just 2% Merlot. It has a straightforward, focused, undergrowth and tobacco-scented bouquet, nicely defined if perhaps missing the complexity and nuance of recent vintages. The palate is supple on the entry with notes of tart cherry, wild strawberry and a touch of graphite. It is certainly approachable for Lafite-Rothschild, balanced, though missing structure and density towards the sappy finish. It is a lightweight Lafite-Rothschild that does improve with aeration as it did in barrel, yet it never scales the heights of the greatest vintages from this First Growth.

– eRobertParker.com, Oct 2016

Only one-third of the tiny 2013 crop made it into the 2013 Lafite Rothschild, which may be the lowest rated Lafite produced in the last twenty years. Composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, only the 1994 (99% Cabernet Sauvignon) and 1961 (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) had higher percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend. The 2013 possesses a dark ruby color, but it does not reveal much of the Lafite Rothschild character in the aromatics or flavors. Elegant, with dark cherry fruit interwoven with underbrush and damp wood-like notes, it narrows in the mouth, and while it is above-average, possibly even excellent, it is hardly an inspiring wine. At its price point, it is a major underachiever in this vintage. - 87-89 points - Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #214, August 2014)

98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot. Closed nose. Bold black fruit on the palate, moderate tannins on the mid palate that become pretty strong on the length. This is very classic Pauillac with excellent fruit clarity – but in the context of the price and provenance, it’s clear that 2013 is a levelling vintage. Drink 2018-2028 – Richard Hemming (jancisrobinson.com, April 2014)

Tasted blind. Light on the nose and just a touch leafy, like Cab Franc. Leafy and quite light but also fresh and juicy. Light pleasure but pretty dry. (JH)