Why is Lafite so expensive?
The wine producers were classified according to a château’s reputation and trading price, which, at that time, was directly related to quality. Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices.
What does Chateau Lafite taste like?
“It is very much its own wine, its own expression.” The Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 2010 is made from a blend of 87 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 13 percent Merlot. All guile and elegance now, it has very sleek, perfumy black tea, currant and crushed fig fruit, laced with subtle smoke, incense and tar.
What is the history of Lafite wine?
The vintage rankings of the Universal Paris Exposition in 1855 officially gave Lafite the rating as “Leader among fine wines.” While the first known reference to Lafite dates to 1234 with a certain Gombaud de Lafite, abbot of the Vertheuil Monastery north of Pauillac, Lafite’s mention as a medieval fief dates to the 14th century.
What are the characteristics of Chateau Lafite Rothschild?
The wine has great finesse and a particular softness imparted by the Merlot. It tends to be firm yet delicate and supple, great elegance develops with age. Chateau Lafite Rothschild is one of only four classified first growths and thus the designation as 1st er Cru.
Who is the current manager of Lafite?
Baron Eric de Rothschild, the current manager, was already running Lafite in 1982. Today the vineyard is 107 hectares, but back then it was about 90ha – still larger than any other first growth. There’s no ‘winemaker’ at Lafite, but the technical director then was Jean Crété (ex-Léoville-Las-Cases).
What was the harvest like at Lafite?
The harvest began early, on 16 September. Some less well equipped estates had trouble controlling fermentations during the hot weather, but this was not an issue at Lafite. Some estates overcropped as the yield was generous, but dilution was rare.
