Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château Lafite Rothschild is a wine estate of the Médoc, located in Pauillac, New Aquitaine, extending over 178 hectares including 116 vineyards. Ranked "first great cru" in 1855, he shared this distinction with four other Bordeaux castles: Margaux, Latour, Mouton Rothschild and Haut-Brion. Its history is marked by the production of some of the most famous wines in the world, with sophisticated winemaking techniques since the 18th century.

The name "Lafite" comes from the family of La Fite, allied with the house of Foix in the seventeenth century. Pierre de La Fite, lord of Goussencourt and owner of the estate, confirmed his nobility in 1740. From the 17th century, the property passed to the family of Ségur, who developed the vineyard. Jacques de Ségur planted the first vines around 1680, and his descendant, the Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur, improved winemaking in the 1760s.

In 1760, the Duke of Richelieu introduced Lafite's wine to the Court of Versailles, consolidating his reputation. The estate was acquired in 1868 by Baron James de Rothschild during a public sale. The Rothschild family runs from the castle, with notable figures such as Élie de Rothschild (1946-1974), her nephew Éric (1975-2017), and today Saskia de Rothschild. The castle was listed as historical monuments in 1989.

The 116-hectare vineyard, divided into three plots, one in Saint-Estèphe, is based on a terroir of serious fine and limestone. Encépagement is dominated by the cabernet sauvignon (70%), supplemented by merlot, free cabernet and small verdot. The estate produces 15 000 to 20 000 cases of wine annually, as well as a second wine, the Carruades de Lafite.

Among the mythical vintages were 1921, 1945, 1982, 2000 and 2005, some of whom had the perfect score of 100/100 by Robert Parker. Bottle prices, among the highest in Bordeaux, have risen sharply since 2009, mainly due to Chinese demand. The domain has also been involved in legal controversies, such as the one opposing Lafite Rothschild to the Magin family for the use of the brand "Château Lafitte".

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