Chateau Lafite
Château Lafite Rothschild is undoubtedly one of Bordeaux’s finest wines and possibly one of the world’s greats. Situated in wine growing region to the north of Bordeaux, near the village of Pauillac.
History
The Chateau was originally founded in the 17th century by the Ségur family and the estate soon earned a reputation as a top-level winemaking estate. Jacques de Ségur began planting vines in the 1670s and early 1680s.
In the mid-18th century, the wines from the estate met with royal approval, King Louis XV, guided by the Maréchal de Richelieu, metioned the following about Lafite, "and it was soon the subject of much ado at Versailles." Thomas Jefferson, as ambassador to France in the days before the French Revolution, developed an enjoyment for the finest French wines, among them Chateau Lafite.
At the Universal French Exposition of 1855, the wines of France were classified, and Château Lafite was one of only four to receive the highest classification - premier cru. The others were Château Latour, Château Margaux and Château Haut-Brion. The classifications remained unchanged until 1973, when Château Mouton Rothschild, the appellation of another branch of the Rothschild family, joined them.
In 1868, Baron James de Rothschild purchased Château Lafite, and the family name was added. The wine has endured many disasters: two world wars and German occupation; phylloxera (a destructive aphid) and mildew; the Great Depression. After World War II, the Barons de Rothschild regained possession of the estate, and Baron Elie de Rothschild restored the business. It is now under the management of his nephew, Baron Eric de Rothschild.
Vineyard
The vineyard is one of the largest in the Médoc at around 1 km², and producing around 35,000 cases annually, of which between 15,000 and 25,000 are of the famous first growth. The second wine is called Carruades de Lafite. Its vines are around 70 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc, and 2 % Petit Verdot, whereas the final wine is between 80 and 95 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 and 20 % Merlot, and up to 3 % Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Occasionally exceptions are made, such as the 1961 vintage which was 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon
Great vintages
The best vintages are considered to be those wines with intensity and concentration, combined with a light, velvety texture, the hallmark of great French wine - the years 1945, 1947, 1949, 1959, 1961, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005. |
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