This Château has made truly legendary wines in 2020. Looking at the vintage, the harvest occurred all in September, and their second wine, the 2020 Carruades De Lafite, is based on 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was raised in 90% new French oak. The alcohol hit 13% and the pH is 3.84. It's much more open and expressive than the Grand Vin and offers beautiful darker red and black fruits as well as leafy tobacco, cedar pencil, and spicy nuances. Medium-bodied, layered, and concentrated, it has the vintage's more structured, firm feel on the palate, rock-solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but will evolve for two decades.

93 points, JebDunnuck.com (March 2023)

Made from 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Carruades de Lafite is deep garnet-purple in color. Notions of blackcurrant cordial, black cherries, and boysenberries leap from the glass followed by hints of camphor, crushed rocks, and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound, with very fine-grained tannins and a bold backbone of acidity, finishing long and minerally.

93+ points, The Wine Independent (March 2023)

This is an enjoyable Carruades, with confident weight and spice, barely out of its En Primeur character. Black cherry and cassis notes grip on through the palate, with liqourice, tobacco and espresso, and a creamy mid palate gives a welcoming kick. Eric Kohler technical director, 20% new oak.

93 points, JaneAnson.com (November 2022)

The 2020 Carruades de Lafite is a very pretty wine that marries the aromatic presence of Cabernet Sauvignon and the plushness of Merlot that make up the principal part of this blend. Dried herbs, leather, earthiness, tobacco and cedar lend darkness and aromatic intensity to this brooding Pauillac. The 2020 is a powerhouse Carruades that needs a few years in bottle to find its finest balance.

92 points, Vinous (December 2022)

A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2020 Carruades de Lafite offers up aromas of dark berries, cassis, cigar wrapper, violets and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, it's a rich, gourmand wine, some 20% of which was matured in tank.

91 points, Wine Advocate (April 2023)

The 2020 Carruades de Lafite, matured in 25-30% new oak, has quite a dense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and faint licorice scents that surface with time. It has fine focus, though not immense intensity. The palate is well balanced with slightly angular tannins, somewhat furry in texture, quite saline with hints of black olive, neat 'n tidy towards the graphite-tinged finish. Probably more classic in style compared to the 2019. Enjoy over the next 12-15 years.

90 points, Vinous (December 2022)