Château Lafite Rothschild

Château Lafite Rothschild is one of only five classified first growths and thus the designation as 1er Cru Classé. The vintage rankings of the Universal Paris Exposition in 1855 officially gave Lafite the rating as “Leader among fine wines.” The vineyard covers 264 acres and is divided into three separate areas: the hilly ground close to the Château, the plateau of the Carruades and a plot in the commune of Saint Estèphe (special permission was granted to incorporate these wines into the Pauillac appellation). The soil is composed of fine gravel mixed with aeolian sand and planted with four classic Médoc grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (2%). The average age of the vines is 35 years but those that produce the Grand Vin selection are 45 years or older. In August 1868, Baron James de Rothschild purchased Château Lafite and it has remained in the family for six generations.

A brilliant vintage! The first three months of the year were marked by quite high temperatures and not too much rain. The month of July wasn’t very sunny and dry and seemed to block the vines. First grapes appeared on 22nd July. August was surprisingly hot and gave precocious vines. As a consequence of a dry summer, vine growth stops early. The harvest took place from September 24th to October 10th. The evolution of the grapes was very rapid from then on.

Depending of their provenance and level of ripeness, grapes are transferred into either wooden, stainless steel or concrete vats. The maceration period varies for each tank but is around 22 days in total. After malolactic fermentation wines are transferred into French oak barrels from la Tonnellerie des Domaines (the Lafite cooperage in Pauillac), which contributes to its unique style. The grand vin selection is made in March, once the wines have settled and start revealing their full potential. Once blended, the wine is aged for a further 20 months in barrels, primarily of new oak.

This vintage has a pleasantly woody, spicy nose; the palate is structured and well balanced, gradually increasing in power with great elegance; the finish is long and characterized by very red, ripe fruit.