string(26) "Château Lafite Rothschild"
Château Lafite Rothschild
The grand château in the Pauillac appellation, with its elegantly wine-red shutters, has witnessed much throughout its history. When one has the privilege of tasting this top-tier wine today, every sip carries a piece of its eventful past: founded in the final third of the 17th century, it passed to the Ségur family in 1716 through inheritance—owners of Latour as well. The next proprietor was beheaded, and the estate was subsequently confiscated as public property.
It was later sold to a Dutch consortium before being taken over by a grain merchant who supplied Napoleon’s armies. Ownership then passed to his wife, followed by a sale to a London banker. Eventually, the estate returned to its rightful owner, though she remained without heirs. In 1868, it was finally sold to the Parisian banker Baron James de Rothschild, who passed away that same year.
Since then, this magnificent estate has remained in the hands of the Rothschild family, who today cultivate nearly 180 hectares of vineyards. Notably, the estate was elevated to the prestigious rank of one of the (then only) four Premier Crus a full 13 years before the Rothschild family’s acquisition.
All wines from Château Lafite Rothschild
All vintages of Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac
Does your pulse quicken at the mention of blackcurrants, cedarwood, cigar box, and damp forest floor? If so, your refined palate is likely well-acquainted with Pauillac. Welcome to Cabernet Sauvignon paradise!
British wine critic Hugh Johnson once said:
“If one had to single out one commune of Bordeaux to head the list, there would be no argument. It would be Pauillac.”
This 1,200-hectare AOC is home to three of Bordeaux’s five world-famous Premiers Crus: Lafite, Latour, and Mouton-Rothschild. Interestingly, Lafite and Mouton share vineyards on the highest plateau of Le Pouyalet, standing at a modest 30 meters.
But Pauillac is also the birthplace of many other remarkable estates, including:
- 2ème Crus: Pichon-Comtesse, Pichon-Baron
- 4ème Cru: Duhart-Milon
- 5ème Crus: Pontet-Canet, Lynch-Bages, to name just a few.
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates these highly elegant blends. The region’s deep gravel soils provide excellent drainageacross its subtly undulating landscape, creating the ideal conditions for this grape variety to produce wines of global renown.
All wines from Pauillac