There are supposed to be people who have no interest in wine whatsoever. And even they "naturally" recognise the name "Lafite-Rothschild" and know that it is one of the most famous wine estates in the world. Some may also have heard that a bottle from the estate of Thomas Jefferson realised a price of 160,000 dollars at an auction in 1985.
But what interests us above all: How can the château - categorised as a Premier Cru vineyard in 1855 along with Latour, Haut-Brion and Margaux - repeatedly confirm its absolute top position and also win it back after setbacks?
Let's start underground. The château is located to the north of Paulliac and covers 112 hectares of vines (including a small area in the neighbouring municipality of Saint Estèphe). Here, the vines are rooted in a unique terroir, namely a layer of gravel more than eight metres thick, which lies on a limestone base. This low-nutrient environment alone ensures reduced yields and a high concentration of flavour in the grapes.
The gravel also provides perfect drainage, stores the heat of the day and releases it to the plants. These are simply ideal conditions for outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for around 70 % of the vines. Merlot (25 %) is also used for the classic Medoc cuvée,
Cabernet Franc (3 %) and Petit Verdot (2 %) are also cultivated.
The average age of the vines is 39 years. Plants under 10 years old are used exclusively for the second wine. The Grand Vin is therefore around 42 years old. The oldest parcel, "La Gravière", was planted in 1886.
Fermentation naturally takes place separately for each parcel, partly in thermo-regulated steel, partly in wood or concrete. For even more control in this step, two new fermentation cellars were built in 2020, one specifically for the individual Merlot parcels, the other for malolactic fermentation to regulate the acidity of Merlot and Cabernet.
The maturing cellar holds around 2,200 barrels. They come from the company's own cooperage and are roasted specifically for the château. After blending, the Grand Vin matures for up to 20 months.
photos: Château Lafite-Rothschild
