Carruades Lafite releases with volumes down 50% on last year

Volumes of Lafite Rothschild’s second wine, Carruades Lafite, have, like its First Growth cousin, been reduced by 50% this year, with further releases today continuing the downward pricing trend.

Carruades Lafite was released at a price of €145 per bottle ex-negociant, down 19.4% on the 2018 release price of €180. Liv-ex said it is being offered by the trade for £1,896 per 12×75, down 15% on the 2018 release (£2,240).

Like Lafite, volumes are also reported to be down 50%. Perrotti-Brown MW of the Wine Advocate gave it 92-94 points calling it “bright” with “fresh notions of wild blueberries, ripe plums and redcurrant jelly”. James Suckling was more generous, giving it 95-96 points, complimenting the wine on its “purity of fruit”.

Liv-ex has stated that the 2019 wine presents an “exciting opportunity” for those securing an allocation.

Also owned by DBR, Pomerol’s L’Evangile was released at €135 per bottle ex-négociant, down 25% on the 2018 release price of €180. The wine is being offered at £1752 per 12×75, a decrease of 22.1% on the 2018 release of £2250 per case, according to Liv-ex. 

It was given a top notch 98-100 by Decanter‘s Jane Anson, who described it as “one of the very few wines in 2019 that I can say without question approaches a perfect score”.

Suckling gave it 97-98 points, while Perotti-Brown awarded it 96-98.

Finally, Lafite’s Pauillac property Duhart Milon has also been released at €48 per bottle ex-negociant, down 12.7% on the 2018 price of €55 but the same as 2017. According to Liv-ex, it is being offered by the international trade at £624 per 12×75, down 4.7% on the 2018 release (£655).

Suckling gave the wine 95-96 points, Leve of Wine Cellar Insider gave it 93-95, while Perrotti-Brown scored it 92-94.