Carruades de Lafite (Paillac) 1995

Carruades is the second wine of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild. It gets a mix of the produce of young vines that aren't deemed mature enough for the main wine and barrel lots that don't quite come up to standard for the premier cru. The 95 Carruades is a delicious and accessible wine that is very pleasant to drink, but lacks the complexity of the premier cru. Unlike the big guy, it makes few intellectual demands on the consumer, instead offering easy sensual pleasures. The bouquet and flavor profile suggest rich dark fruits, mainly blackberries and currants, as well as cedar and Provencal herbs. I debated for a long time whether this wine's grade deserved to cross the A line, concluding that it just cleared the bar. This Carruades has the tannic backbone and acid balance to continue to improve for at least a decade, so my grade reflects an expectation of future delights almost as much as current enjoyment. Grade: A--