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Château Lafite-Rothschild

As one of the original four First Growth Bordeaux estates designated by the historic 1855 Bordeaux classification, Château Lafite-Rothschild wines remain some of the world’s most prestigious. One of the château's earliest and most celebrated fans was King Louis XV, who reportedly preferred to buy Château Lafite-Rothschild wine above all other wines. The winery’s reputation remains intact as one of the world’s leading Bordeaux producers. Located in Pauillac, one of Bordeaux’s four famous left bank communes, Château Lafite-Rothschild began gaining a reputation as a great winemaking estate in the 17th century after the vines were first planted on the estate in the late 1670s by Jacques de Ségur.
The history of the château is deeply rooted in French winemaking lineage. Jacques de Ségur’s son Alexandre married the heiress of Château Latour and together they had a son, Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur, linking the histories of both Lafite and Latour from the beginning of each estate’s founding. In the early 18th century, Bordeaux blends were wildly popular in London (known to British wine drinkers as “French clarets,” coining the term Bordeaux-style red wine blends still used today) with the prime minister Robert Walpole drinking a barrel of Lafite every three months. The château survived many significant periods in French history relatively unscathed and was eventually purchased in 1868 by Baron James de Rothschild. The estate has remained in the hands of the Rothschild family ever since.
The term “lafite” is derived from “la hite,” or little hill in one of the regional dialects used in France in the Middle Ages. The domaines Baron de Rothschild also include Château Rieussec, Château L’Evangile, Château Duhart-Milon, and others in France and Argentina. Château Lafite-Rothschild includes 247.1 acres of vineyards planted in 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The average age of the vines is 40 years. Annual production is 18,000 to 25,

1983 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Base neck fill

RP  92   
WS  91   
MB  ***   

1984 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; signs of past seepage; very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

JS  94   

1985 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; signs of past seepage; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

JS  96   
JG  96   
WA  93   
VN  93   
WS  90   
ST  90   
JR  18   

1986 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill

RP  100   
WS  94   
MB  ****   
3 available
Bid *

1986 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

RP  100   
WS  94   
MB  ****   
2 available
Bid *

1986 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Capsule condition issue

RP  100   
WS  94   
MB  ****   

1986 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork

RP  100   
WS  94   
MB  ****   

1986 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; very top shoulder fill

RP  100   
WS  94   
MB  ****   

1987 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; base neck fill; light label condition issue

1987 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1987 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1987 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; label condition issue

1987 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1988 Château Lafite-Rothschild

3.0ltr

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; light label condition issue

RP  94   
WS  90   
JR  17.5   

1989 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; heavy label condition issue

WS  94   
JR  18.5   
RP  90   
MB  ****/*   

1989 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; base neck fill; light label condition issue

WS  94   
JR  18.5   
RP  90   
MB  ****/*   

1989 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; base neck fill

WS  94   
JR  18.5   
RP  90   
MB  ****/*