Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Carruades de Lafite 2018 [NET]

Carruades is the second wine of Lafite, made from younger vines and parcels not selected for the grand vin. The 2018 blend is 56.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 5.5% Cabernet Franc — that higher Merlot share is what makes Carruades approachable earlier than the grand vin while still carrying the Lafite house style of graphite, cedar, and aromatic lift. 2018 was a warm, generous Left Bank vintage, and that ripeness shows up here as plush dark fruit. Drinking well now, will hold for two decades.