Château Lafite Rothschild

Terroir, Vineyard, and Location

Chateau Lafite Rothschild is located in the far north of the Pauillac appellation. The vineyards are situated close to the St. Estephe appellation, and only a small stream separates the two areas. The estate has close to 50 hectares of vines located close to the chateau, on both sides of the D2 highway, which offers gentle rises in elevations of up to 27 meters. They also have about 50 hectares of vines planted on the plateau in the Carruades sector, where they have 2 blocks of vines, one of which is inside the vineyard of Chateau Mouton Rothschild. The best terroir of Lafite Rothschild has a thick layer of gravel with sand, clay, marl, and limestone in the soils with rolling, gravel slopes.

Wine Characters and Styles

Lafite Rothschild produces an elegant style of Pauillac. Its qualities show cedar, cassis, tobacco, truffle, lead pencil, and spice along with the freshness and purity of dark red fruits. Perhaps, it’s the most refined of the First Growths. Lafite Rothschild is not about power or concentration. Instead, it focuses on its width of flavors and aromatic nuances. The wine, like all First Growth’s, takes decades to mature. It has remarkable staying powers.

Wine-making Techniques

The 112-hectare vineyard of Chateau Lafite Rothschild is planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. While the Cabernet Sauvignon has remained at 70%, today, there is slightly more Merlot, less Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot has been added since the mid-1990s. Located in the far north of the Pauillac appellation, only the small, Jalle de Breuil stream separates the vineyards from the St. Estephe appellation. At Chateau Lafite Rothschild, between 1% to 1.5% of the vineyard is replanted every year. Vines less than 20 years of age are never included in the Grand Vin.

Best Vintages

The most famous Lafite Rothschild has to be the 1982 vintage, up until this day, there are still some perfect copndition 1982 Lafites’ for collection across the world. Chateau Lafite Rothschild has been producing some of the best wines in its history since 1996. The best vintages after 1996 include 2003, 2009, 2010, and 2016. However, 2018 could be better than any previous vintage produced in time!

Best Storage and Serving Temperatures

Chateau Lafite Rothschild is a wine that takes decades to mature. It is best stored in a cool, dark place, with a constant temperature between 50-55°F (10-15°C).

Decanting Time

Lafite Rothschild needs to be decanted for at least 3 hours before drinking.

Food Pairing

Lafite Rothschild pairs well with beef, lamb, game, poultry, and cheese.

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