Château Lafite Rothschild, situated at the northern tip of the Pauillac, is one of Bordeaux's finest wines, synonymous with wealth, prestige and the Rothschild family.
Lafite is often considered the more feminine, elegant and seductive of the first growths and under the direction of Baron Eric de Rothschild and management of Charles Cuvelier it has become the more consistent of Bordeaux's first growths. Lafite produces a grand vin (up to 25 000 cases) and a second wine, the Carruades de Lafite (up to 30 000 cases).
The château is built upon the fine gravel soils and sand of the Haut-Médoc, comprising three major vineyard sites: the hillsides around the château, those adjacent to the Carruades plateau to the west, and those neighbouring Saint-Estèphe. There is little or no application of chemical fertilisers, and sparse use of organic fertilisers.
Lafite Rothschild's first known reference dates back to the 13th century, but earned its reputation for winemaking in the late 17th when Jacques de Segur planted the vineyards on a commercial scale. Within a century, Lafite had an international following, including Thomas Jefferson whilst serving as Ambassador at the Versailles Court.
Baron James de Rothschild bought Lafite in 1868 and its 90 hectares have been under the control of the Rothschild family ever since, except for the Second World War years, when it came under German occupation. |
