97 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guides to the Wines of France: "The pure, precise, magnificently spicy nose is in perfect balance with the wine's vigorous body. The texture has sublime substance. Drink: 2011 up to 2023. (2011)"

Named 'Top 100 Wine of 2004' (#7) and 96 points Wine Spectator: "Stick your nose in this and it says something: 'I am special.' Deep and generous aromas of blackberries, fresh tobacco and minerals. It's full-bodied, with big velvety tannins and a superlong finish. Like a fine cashmere sweater. Best after 2010."

96 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "Tasted at 'The Sampler’s' icon tasting in London. The 2001 Lafite Rothschild has a quintessential bouquet for Lafite: very pure, almost understated at first. It then begins to open with briary, blackberry leaf, cedar and freshly rolled tobacco with subtle floral notes emerging after three of four minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and it certainly shows more vitality than the 1985 served alongside. Slightly grainy tannins, more feminine than previous bottles with dark plum, blackberry, citrus fruit, a touch of dried apricot and a very precise finish. Superb. Tasted December 2011."