Château Lafite Rothschild

Château Lafite Rothschild, one of Pauillac's most lauded estates, is a name that resonates with wine lovers worldwide. As one of just five esteemed First Growths of the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Lafite has stood out for its unparalleled finesse and sophistication for generations, earning it a distinguished reputation that has spanned centuries.

Lafite Rothschild Terroir History

While the property's history dates back to the 13th century, its modern era began when the Ségur family acquired the estate in 1670. Through marital ties, Lafite briefly shared ownership with other famous Médoc houses of Latour and Calon-Ségur. Although this union has since dissolved, it speaks to the early prestige the property enjoyed before securing its status as First Growth in the 1855 Classification. It was only in 1868, upon the acquisition by the Rothschild family, that the estate would achieve even greater heights with its already revered property.

Lafite Rothschild: Pauillac Terroir

Lafite's exceptional wines are the result of a unique combination of terroir and meticulous winemaking practices. The estate is located in the Pauillac appellation, within the Médoc region of Bordeaux, where the composition of gravel and clay in this terroir plays a crucial role. These elements act as natural regulators, managing water levels with finesse—absorbing, soaking, supporting, tightening, or loosening, easing, and freeing. In a delicate dance with the environment, they nourish the soil without excess, creating a harmonious balance.

The 112-hectare vineyard, situated on well-drained gravel and sand over limestone subsoil, is divided into three parts. The vines on the hillsides surrounding the château contribute to the grand vin, while the adjacent Carruades plateau yields grapes for the second wine, Carruades de Lafite. Additionally, a plot in Saint-Estèphe adds a unique touch to the estate's wines. This region's gravelly soils and maritime climate create the ideal conditions for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon, the dominant grape variety in Château Lafite's vineyards.

Lafite's distinct terroir, with its treasured gravelly soils, provides the perfect foundation for Cabernet to shine. While Cabernet Sauvignon dominates these classic Bordeaux blends, small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot add depth and complexity to the final wine, or Grand Vin. With an average vine age surpassing 40 years, the grapes develop a remarkable concentration of flavors, resulting in richly-layered, aromatic wine that embodies the essence of Pauillac's finest expressions.

Lafite Rothschild Winemaking Practices

In addition to Lafite's outstanding terroir, the château has earned its prestigious reputation through meticulous winemaking practices. As dedicated stewards of the Lafite name, the Rothschilds have remained steadfast in their commitment to crafting wines of the highest caliber. The estate's rigorous standards throughout the winemaking process make these wines worth the investment as they regularly experiment with modern techniques to ensure their wines benefit. Lafite even goes so far as to produce their own barriques in their very own cooperage, a luxury reserved for only the world's top estates.

The Grand Vin showcases the mastery of Cabernet from ideal Left Bank soils, exuding elegance and harmony with its silky texture and refined tannins that leave a lasting impression on the palate. These wines possess a remarkable ability to age gracefully, evolving over time to reveal a beguiling bouquet of cassis, cedar, and tobacco. With each passing year during bottling aging, new layers and nuance emerge, showcasing the ageability of Lafite wines and the immense potential of the Pauillac region.

Lafite Rothschild Wines: Grand Vin

Château Lafite is best known for its two flagship wines, Château Lafite Rothschild and Carruades de Lafite. Château Lafite Rothschild is the estate's grand vin, known for its elegance, finesse, and ability to age gracefully for decades. This quintessential Bordeaux wine has gained many praises and perfect scores throughout years:

• RP100 on the 2010 "Full-bodied, rich and densely packed with perfumed black fruit layers, it has a rock-solid backbone of fantastically ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing very long and minerally. Still very youthful!" Lisa Perrotti-Brown Mar 2020
• RP100 "The 2003 Lafite Rothschild comes as close to perfection as any of the great Lafites made over the past three decades (1982, 1986, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010. This is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage – make no mistake about that. These are two great successes in this vintage that have aged well and surprised me by their intensity and overall complexity." Robert Parker Aug 2014
• RP100 on the 1953 "On two occasions I rated the 1953 100 and on another occasion, nearly perfect. According to some old-timers, the wine has been fully mature for almost 30 years. It possesses that extraordinary Lafite fragrance of minerals, lead pencil, cedar, and spice. It is velvety-textured, wonderfully round, and sweet, but so well-delineated and balanced. It is best purchased today in magnum and larger formats unless you can be assured the wine came from a cold cellar and has not been traded frequently. Last tasted 10/94." Robert Parker Dec 1997

Lafite Rothschild Wines: 2nd Wine

Carruades de Lafite is the second wine of the estate, made from younger vines, less than 25 years, and parcels that don't meet the stringent criteria for the grand vin. However, it still maintains a high standard of quality, offering a more approachable and earlier-drinking Bordeaux experience.