Château Lafite Rothschild

The first known reference to Château Lafite Rothschild (1st Growth) can be traced back to 1234, where the estate is mentioned as a medieval fortress by Abbot Gombaud de Lafite from the Vertheuil monastery north of Pauillac.

 

The name Lafite comes from the old Gascon expression "la hite," meaning "hill".  Château Lafite Rothschild, with its 107 hectares, has one of the largest land holdings in the Médoc. Approximately 420,000 bottles are produced annually: between 180,000 and 300,000 bottles of the 1st wine, Château Lafite Rothschild 1st Growth, and the rest of the 2nd wine, Carruades de Lafite. The vineyards are planted with about 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The final wine contains 80-95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5-20% Merlot, and up to 3% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Rare exceptions are made, such as the 1961 vintage, made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon.

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In the early 1670s, Marquis de Ségur took over the property, likely already with vineyards on the land. The family brought the estate's wines onto the international stage, and the house slowly but surely gained the reputation that is maintained to this day. Jacques de Ségur was credited with the plantation in the 1670s and 1680s. In 1695, Jacques de Ségur's heir, Alexandre, married the heir of Château Latour (1st Growth), giving birth to Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur.  

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In 1868, after the turbulent years of the revolution, the estate was sold to Baron James Mayer Rothschild for 4.4 million francs and renamed Château Lafite Rothschild. Baron Rothschild died only three months after buying the estate, which then became a joint ownership among his three sons: Alphonse, Gustave, and Edmond Rothschild. The following century also saw periods of prosperity and decline, especially with post-phylloxera vines and two world wars. During World War II, the castle was occupied by the German army, and the cellars suffered a harsh fate.

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In 1974, Éric de Rothschild took the reins after his uncle Élie de Rothschild. Éric, like several of his predecessors, faced life's challenges head-on when he assumed the leadership of Château Lafite Rothschild. It was in the midst of a very difficult era for Bordeaux.

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In 1982, Éric, along with his cousin David Rothschild, led a bank in Paris. The socialist president, François Mitterrand, nationalized the bank and forced the cousins to start over in the financial sector. They succeeded. At the same time, Éric invested more and more energy in his vinous interests. Éric hired winemaker Charles Chevalier, who retired after 30 vintages, and Émile Peynaud as a consultant. They replanted the vineyards and modernized cellars and operational buildings, so everything today is optimized to make the most of the exceptional soils surrounding the castle.

 

Today, the estate is owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild, which also owns Château Duhart-Milon (4th Growth) in Pauillac, Château L’Évangile in Pomerol, and Château Rieussec (1st Growth) in Sauternes.