Château Lafite Rothschild: The Complete Guide

? Find out all you need to know about the fine wines of this great Bordeaux. You'll also find our Château Lafite Rothschild wines in stock on the site. Enjoy your visit!

A little Lafite history

? The first traces of Lafite family dates back to the 1200s, when the abbot of the Vertheuil Monastery, located north of Pauillac, bore the name Gombaud de Lafite. It wasn't until the 14th century that the name Lafite was attached to the medieval seigneury, the word Lafite coming from the Gascon "la hite" meaning the mound. It wasn't until the 17th century that Lafite's reputation became that of a top-quality wine estate. The first vines were planted in 1670 and 1680, and the estate's heirs continued the work. One of the heirs even married the heiress of Château Latour.

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• When you drink a Château Lafite wine, you're drinking a piece of history. 

Visit Lafite wines were sold in London in the early 1700s. They were even dubbed "New French Claret". The property's quality improved thanks to the Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur, who even managed to sell the wines to the foreign market and to the court of Versailles. As a result, he earned the name "Prince des Vignes" and Château Lafite the reputation of "King's Wine".
Thomas Jefferson sounded the same note...
While ambassador to the court of Versailles, he spent several days in Bordeaux, touring the finest estates in the region. During his visit to Lafite, he described the property as the most beautiful in the universe...
Several families succeeded one another in the ownership, going from sale to resale ...

The first trace of a Médoc classification was in 1815 by Mr. Lawton, who already placed Lafite at the top of the list. The last purchase of the estate was by Baron James de Rothschild. Unfortunately, he died a few months later, and the estate was then run by his three sons.
The first half of the 20th century was a very complicated time for Lafite and the rest of the French vineyard, with vine disease, world war and plummeting wine prices. It took a few great vintages to keep them from falling completely.
The second half of the 20th century was much more successful, with a succession of barons working tirelessly to create a new vineyard. From the vineyards to the cellars and the plots around the château, nothing was left to chance to create one of Bordeaux's greatest wines.
The transition to the new century was very smooth. Anthology vintages such as 2000, 2003 or the famous 20052009 and 2010 are sure to please those lucky enough to be able to taste them.

 

• Vineyard side

Château Lafite Rothschild covers 112 hectares of vines on deep gravel soils with a little sand and limestone subsoil. The gravel allows heat to escape at night, while the sand and limestone facilitate drainage and ensure perfect water management for the vines.
The blend is composed of 70 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc and 2 % Petit Verdot.
The average age of the vines is 40 years, although the youngest vines are not used to make the grand vin.

 

• Cellar side

Wine-making is managed by Éric Kohler, the château's technical director, who is also in charge of the wine-making process. Château Duhart-Milon.
Each plot of land is vinified separately, in order to fully capture the identity of the terroir.
Very recently, the estate decided to refine its work with Merlot, and created a vat room with a dozen small-capacity vats in order to pay particular attention to the different Merlot plot lots.
The wines are aged in barrels for 18 to 20 months, using only barrels from the estate cooperage.

 

• Carruades de Lafitean exceptional second wine

The estate's second hand, its name comes from the parcels where the grapes are harvested, "le plateau des Carruades".
Although it retains the same style as the grand vin, the latter offers a blend with slightly more Merlot (from 30 to 50 % depending on the year).
If you'd like to enjoy a bottle of Carruades, you'll need to decant it for younger vintages. The wine should be served with a nice, tasty dish, preferably red meat in sauce.

 

• Château Lafite Rothschild - 1er Cru Classé 1855

Taste a Lafite wineis like tasting one of Bordeaux's greatest wines, one of the world's greatest wines.
The estate has one of the best exposed plots in the Médoc, and its blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon could fool many with its finesse and delicacy. Aged for 18 to 20 months in new barrels, you'll need to wait at least 15 years before tasting it.
Pair it with a delicate dish, or a sauce without too much spice, to bring out the best in the wine.

 

 

See also..:

• The Best Wines of Pauillac, grands crus de Bordeaux
• Our Pauillac 100% wines in stock on the site