Château Lafite Rothschild

Château Lafite Rothschild is a First Growth estate located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux's Left Bank, with a documented history stretching to 1234 when the property was held by Gombaud de Lafite. Serious viticulture began in the 17th century when the Ségur family purchased the estate, with Jacques de Ségur planting the majority of the vineyard around 1680. In the early 18th century, Nicolas-Alexandre, marquis de Ségur, refined the winemaking and introduced the wine to European royalty; he became known as the 'Wine Prince' and Lafite's Grand Vin was called 'the King's Wine.' Following the French Revolution, the estate passed through Dutch merchants and then the Vanlerberghe family before Baron James Mayer Rothschild purchased it at auction in Paris on 8 August 1868 for 4.4 million francs. In the 1855 Exposition Universelle Classification, Lafite was one of only four châteaux designated Premier Cru, a ranking that reflected its position as the top-priced Médoc wine of the time. Mouton Rothschild joined as the fifth First Growth only in 1973.

• Documented estate history from 1234; serious viticulture established under the Ségur family from around 1680
• Nicolas-Alexandre, marquis de Ségur, introduced Lafite to European courts in the early 18th century, earning the nickname 'Wine Prince'
• Baron James Mayer Rothschild purchased Château Lafite on 8 August 1868 for 4.4 million francs; he died three months later, leaving the estate jointly to sons Alphonse, Gustave, and Edmond
• One of four original Premier Crus in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification; the classification now lists five First Growths after Mouton Rothschild's elevation in 1973

The 112-hectare vineyard is divided into three distinct areas: the hillsides surrounding the château, the adjacent Carruades plateau to the west, and a 4.5-hectare plot in the neighboring Saint-Estèphe appellation, which has been included in Pauillac-classified wines by a special dérogation since 1868. Soils are made up of fine, deep gravel mixed with aeolian sand over a subsoil of tertiary limestone, providing excellent drainage and water regulation. Vines average 40 years of age, with only those older than 10 years eligible for the Grand Vin. Each plot is fermented separately in wooden, stainless steel, or concrete vats, depending on grape variety and provenance, to preserve terroir identity. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is transferred into French oak barrels from La Tonnellerie des Domaines, the estate's own cooperage in Pauillac, and aged for 18 to 20 months. Eric Kohler has served as Technical Director since 2016, succeeding the long-serving Charles Chevalier.

• Three vineyard areas: château hillsides (Grand Vin source), Carruades plateau (second wine focus), and 4.5 hectares in Saint-Estèphe (included under special dérogation since 1868)
• Soils: fine, deep gravel mixed with aeolian sand over tertiary limestone subsoil; exceptional drainage and mineral complexity
• Vines average 40 years; only vines over 10 years old contribute to the Grand Vin; plot-by-plot vinification preserves terroir identity
• 18–20 months élevage in French oak barrels from La Tonnellerie des Domaines, the estate's own cooperage in Pauillac

Baron James Mayer Rothschild's acquisition in 1868 launched more than 150 years of family stewardship. His three sons inherited a property of 74 cultivated hectares and rebuilt its reputation through the 19th century. During World War II, the château was occupied by German forces and suffered plundering of its cellars; Baron Elie de Rothschild led the recovery after 1945. Succeeding his uncle Elie, Baron Éric de Rothschild directed the estate from 1974 to 2018, overseeing 42 years of expansion through Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR Lafite), which added Château Duhart-Milon in Pauillac, Château Rieussec in Sauternes, Château L'Evangile in Pomerol, and international estates in Chile and Argentina. In 2018, his daughter Saskia de Rothschild became chairwoman, making her the youngest person and first woman to lead a First Growth Bordeaux estate. Jean-Guillaume Prats joined as president of DBR Lafite in 2017.

• Baron James Mayer Rothschild purchased Lafite in 1868; three sons (Alphonse, Gustave, Edmond) inherited jointly after his death three months later
• Baron Elie de Rothschild oversaw postwar reconstruction from 1945; Baron Éric de Rothschild directed the estate from 1974 to 2018, managing global expansion
• DBR Lafite portfolio includes Duhart-Milon, Rieussec, L'Evangile, and international estates in Chile (Viña Los Vascos), Argentina (Bodegas Caro), and China (Domaine de Long Dai)
• Saskia de Rothschild became chairwoman in 2018, the youngest person and first woman to lead a First Growth Bordeaux estate; Jean-Guillaume Prats joined as president of DBR Lafite in 2017

The Lafite vineyard is planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The Grand Vin typically comprises between 80% and 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot making up most of the remainder, and up to 3% combined Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Proportions vary by vintage to reflect each year's growing conditions. Occasional exceptions occur: the 1961 vintage was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Carruades de Lafite second wine, by contrast, typically includes a significantly higher proportion of Merlot, generally 30–50%, giving it a softer, more approachable profile in youth. Rigorous declassification ensures that fruit from younger vines and underperforming parcels does not enter the Grand Vin, maintaining the estate's consistent style of refined power and aromatic complexity.

• Vineyard planted: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
• Grand Vin blend: typically 80–95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5–20% Merlot, up to 3% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (varies by vintage)
• The 1961 vintage was famously 100% Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabernet Franc has become increasingly rare in the Grand Vin in recent years
• Carruades de Lafite uses a higher proportion of Merlot (30–50%) for a more accessible, fruit-forward style; grapes from younger vines and specific plots are directed to the second wine

Lafite's auction and critical record is among the most celebrated in fine wine. On 29 October 2010, three bottles of the 1869 Château Lafite Rothschild were sold for HK$1.8 million (US$232,692) each at Sotheby's Hong Kong, setting the world record for the most expensive bottle of wine sold at auction. Earlier, at a Christie's auction in December 1985, a bottle of 1787 Château Lafite, thought to have been owned by Thomas Jefferson, sold for approximately US$156,000, though its authenticity has been challenged. Celebrated modern vintages include 1945, 1959, 1961, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2010, with the 2010 receiving a perfect score from Robert Parker. Great vintages can age for 50 years or more. In the 16 vintages between 1995 and 2010, Lafite averaged 96.5 Parker points, reflecting a consistency unmatched on the Left Bank.

• Auction record: 1869 vintage, US$232,692 per bottle (HK$1.8 million), Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29 October 2010
• Earlier auction milestone: 1787 Lafite sold at Christie's in 1985 for approximately US$156,000 (authenticity disputed)
• The 2010 vintage received a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker; the estate averaged 96.5 Parker points across vintages from 1995 to 2010
• Celebrated historic vintages: 1945, 1959, 1961 (100% Cabernet Sauvignon), 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010; great vintages cellar for 50+ years

Château Lafite Rothschild is the archetype of elegant, age-worthy Bordeaux and has shaped the global standard for fine red wine. Listed first in the 1855 Classification, it earned the informal title 'first among the firsts.' The estate produces around 35,000 cases annually across its Grand Vin and Carruades de Lafite, with average bottle prices across all vintages reaching approximately $911. Lafite commands particularly intense demand in Asia, where its brand recognition is unparalleled; analysts estimate that between 50 and 70 percent of bottles labeled Château Lafite Rothschild in China are counterfeit, prompting the estate to introduce anti-counterfeiting capsule seals from the 2012 vintage onward. The estate also established Domaine de Long Dai in China's Shandong province, debuting its first vintage in 2019. DBR Lafite's winemaking philosophy, which emphasizes plot-by-plot vinification, estate cooperage, manual harvesting, and minimal chemical intervention, has influenced premium producers globally.

• Listed first in the 1855 Classification, informally called 'first among the firsts'; consistent global benchmark for elegant, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux
• Average bottle price across all vintages approximately $911; produces around 35,000 cases annually, of which 15,000–25,000 are Grand Vin
• Extreme demand and counterfeiting in Asia led the estate to introduce anti-counterfeiting capsule seals from the 2012 vintage onward
• DBR Lafite established Domaine de Long Dai in Shandong, China, debuting its first vintage in 2019; international estates also include Viña Los Vascos in Chile and Bodegas Caro in Argentina