Château Lafite Rothschild
Château Lafite Rothschild is one of the most famous names in Bordeaux. The origins of the Lafite family date back to the 13th century, but it was during the 17th century that the vineyard took shape and began to gain fame. The wines of the domaine, then known as “New French clarets”, were already sold in London and would later be present on the tables of the French court. Following hereditary successions, the property was divided into several estates, until Nicolas Pierre de Pichard, the first president of the Bordeaux Parliament, purchased the domaine. Even before the French Revolution, its wines were recognized as among the best in Bordeaux and particularly appreciated by Thomas Jefferson, future president of the United States, at the time ambassador at the court of Versailles. The 1855 Classification of wines, created for the Universal Exposition in Paris, consecrated the domaine as Premier Cru Classé and in 1868 Baron James de Rothschild purchased Château Lafite. Thus, Château Lafite Rothschild was born.
The property extends over a total of 112 hectares, divided into several areas: the zone around the Château, the plateau of Carruades, and a parcel in the municipality of Saint-Estèphe. The soils are composed of fine and deep gravel, mixed with sand, resting on a limestone subsoil. They are very draining soils particularly suitable for hosting red grape varieties. The vineyard is cultivated with Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (3%), and Petit Verdot (2%). The vines have an average age of about 40 years, but only grapes from vines older than 10 years are used to produce the first wine of the Château. According to local custom, the vineyards are planted at high density and managed with low yields, in order to have rich and concentrated grapes.
During the harvests, the grapes are divided and vinified by individual parcel, in order to identify the characteristics of the various terroirs and to know their most authentic personality. The vinification area is equipped with traditional oak vats and modern temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
Château Lafite Rothschild is one of the most famous names in Bordeaux. The origins of the Lafite family date back to the 13th century, but it was during the 17th century that the vineyard took shape and began to gain fame. The wines of the domaine, then known as “New French clarets”, were already sold in London and would later be present on the tables of the French court. Following hereditary successions, the property was divided into several estates, until Nicolas Pierre de Pichard, the first president of the Bordeaux Parliament, purchased the domaine. Even before the French Revolution, its wines were recognized as among the best in Bordeaux and particularly appreciated by Thomas Jefferson, future president of the United States, at the time ambassador at the court of Versailles. The 1855 Classification of wines, created for the Universal Exposition in Paris, consecrated the domaine as Premier Cru Classé and in 1868 Baron James de Rothschild purchased Château Lafite. Thus, Château Lafite Rothschild was born.
The property extends over a total of 112 hectares, divided into several areas: the zone around the Château, the plateau of Carruades, and a parcel in the municipality of Saint-Estèphe. The soils are composed of fine and deep gravel, mixed with sand, resting on a limestone subsoil. They are very draining soils particularly suitable for hosting red grape varieties. The vineyard is cultivated with Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (3%), and Petit Verdot (2%). The vines have an average age of about 40 years, but only grapes from vines older than 10 years are used to produce the first wine of the Château. According to local custom, the vineyards are planted at high density and managed with low yields, in order to have rich and concentrated grapes.
During the harvests, the grapes are divided and vinified by individual parcel, in order to identify the characteristics of the various terroirs and to know their most authentic personality. The vinification area is equipped with traditional oak vats and modern temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
