Chateau Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac

1er Grand Cru Classé

last update : Sunday 27 November 2011

Lafite Rothschild has been recognized as one of the very best wines of Bordeaux since the 17th century, and was already exported to London at this early date. Baron James de Rothschild, a rich banker, bought the estate from the de Ségur family (of Calon Ségur) in 1868, and his direct descendants still own the Château. The 100 hectare vineyard - in the north of the Pauillac appellation and a stone's throw away from Saint-Estèphe - has remarkable soil consisting of large Günzian gravel on limestone. Thanks to this magnificent terroir, as well as low yields, the expert winemaking teams over the years, and meticulous selection during the harvest, Château Lafite shines as one of the greatest wines of Bordeaux, and France.

In the early 1980s, Eric de Rothschild appointed the famous Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill to build a revolutionary circular aging cellar.

Lafite displays a rare harmony, with extraordinarily elegant flavors and enchanting violet aromas in great vintages.

In the Bottle

After a glorious period lasting until the early 1950s, Lafite somewhat rested on its laurels for 25 years during which its wines were not truly up to first growth level. However, Elie de Rothschild, followed by his nephew, Eric, worked hard to turn Château Lafite Rothschild around. They succeeded, and the wine recovered its legendary quality from the 1980s onwards, once again becoming the "First of the Firsts" over the last decade.

Exceptional quality, impeccable consistency, and every other aspect of this great wine have contributed to making Lafite Rothschild such an enormous success for the past 20 years..

The 2005 and 2003 vintages are legendary. 2000 Lafite is fascinatingly complex and close to perfection. 1996 and 1990 are perhaps the most promising modern vintages of Lafite, and 1982 Lafite has become mythical. Château Lafite's greatest asset since the mid-1990s is its unfailing consistency. No wine made by Château Lafite Rothschild is ever mediocre.

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WINE PRODUCED BY THE ESTATE

Lafite, Carruades de Lafite (second wine)

COMPARISON WITH AOC - PAUILLAC

Vintage	Absolute score	Relative score to the Appellation	Standard deviation

2009	97.7	104.8	1.12
2008	95.5	105.2	1.36
2007	94.5	105.3	1.31
2006	94.9	104.9	1.71
2005	96.8	109.0	2.13
2004	93.0	106.8	3.85
2003	95.8	108.8	2.31
2002	93.2	106.8	2.79
2001	93.2	109.3	3.33
2000	95.1	109.3	2.64
1999	91.4	106.6	3.68
1998	93.2	107.2	2.98
1997	92.0	107.0	3.07