Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. Why is Lafite so expensive? A year after he took over the management in 1974, he hired Professor Emile Peynaud as consultant. In addition to the first growth, around a third of the wine is released as a second wine under the label Carruades de Lafite. Discover what else your investment offers. Each spring after harvest, an event called En Primeur takes place, to which wine merchants and journalists are invited to taste the wine while its still in the barrel. He knew the number eight is considered extremely lucky in Chinese culture, so hed arranged to have the Chinese symbol for the 8 in 2008 , discreetly engraved in the lucky color red, just above the label. It was going to be a tough day, and neither Ritchie or Salin, the CEO of DBR Lafite, the company behind Lafite, were certain the wines would attract anything like the prices they were hoping for. (AG) (3/2014) Good full, deep red. I told them, Sprite tastes better without Lafite, and Lafite tastes better without Sprite. Nevertheless, the 1982 sold well among government dignitaries and oligarchs looking for the perfect gift, even if they never really intended to drink it. Baron Philippe is the first and only person to accomplish this. Californias Best-Kept Wine Secret: Santa Cruz Mountains, The Bottles That Shaped Tony Parkers Love of Wine, Heavy Metal Fans Drink Muscadet and You Should Too, Get to Know Portugals Stunning White Wines. A second Chteau Lafite Rothschild vineyard was established in the Chinese province of Shandong, where 250,000 vine stocks from France are planted on 30 hectares. The palate is wonderfully concentrated and sonorous; it seems to extend in a column of dense black fruit. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! The fresh wine was then aged in new barriques, produced at Lafites own cooperage, for almost two years before bottling. In Bordeaux, as almost anywhere else in the world of fine wine, wines get more expensive as they get older, and that effect accelerates the older the wine becomes. The night had turned into a bidding frenzy, with price after price shattered. The 2008 was a good, but not great, vintage and the scores it had achieved from the all-important wine critics reflected that. Winemaking practices have changed little at Lafite. They should be fine 2017 is potentially a very good vintage. Hassle-free and easy, our plans and fees are simple and transparent. It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Second, the grapes used to make Lafite wine are of the highest quality. Lafite, derived from the historic language term fite, which means mound or hillock, is said to have been first used in 1234. In October 2019, the 2017 vintage of Long Dai its first went on sale in Europe. At the time the sale set a record for the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction, clocking up a whopping $29,000 per glass! 1982 Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac (high-mid shoulder fill, nicked label Balancing Leisure and Learning: A Students Guide to Watching TV and Sipping Wine, Unforgettable Weddings In The Napa Valley: Celebrating Love In A Vineyard, Experience History And Award-Winning Wines At Renault Winery In Egg Harbor City NJ, Uncovering The History Of Ovid Winery: From Founding Winemaker Mark Herold To The Herold Family Today, Exploring The Winery And Beyond: A Quick 4-Mile Drive From Andaz Napa To The Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Experience The Best Of Napa Valley At Newton Winery, Exploring The Perfect Pairing: White Wine And Roasted Duck, Enjoying White Wine Responsibly: Understanding Calories And Nutritional Value. The mystique extends beyond the wine in Beijing, there is a La Fite. The first half of the 19th century saw Lafite in the hands of the Vanlerberghe family and the wine improved more, including the great vintages of 1795, 1798 and 1818. Chateau Margaux creeps into the top 10 again with its limited edition 12-litre 2009 vintage. Looking at the wine retail shelves raises one question: where's the Bordeaux? Trinken/lagern +40 Jahre. 12 bottles per lot. In France, Lafite became known as the King's wine, after being introduced to the Court at Versailles by Marchal Richelieu. According to the 1855 Classification of the Bordeaux Grands Crus Class prepared for the Universal Exhibition in Paris, Lafite was officially ranked first. In Bordeaux, 2016 was a strange year. It . Although it eventually cooled after reaching about 80 million cases of wine in 2017, China had in a few short years asserted itself as a wine-buying nation equal to anywhere in Europe or the Americas. Every year, a different artist is commissioned by the winery. The unusually warm growing season resulted in grapes of perfect ripeness and enormous concentration and richness. to put under the hammer. Users have rated this wine 4.5 out of 5 stars. Salin reached into Lafites caves and pulled out 1,000 cases to sell of the 1982 vintage, arguably the best of the century. Amazon Pauses Construction on Second Headquarters in Virginia as It Cuts Jobs, Stock Traders Are Ignoring Blaring Bond Alarms, iPhone Maker Plans $700 Million India Plant in Shift From China, Russia Is Getting Around Sanctions to Secure Supply of Key Chips for War. There have been many notable events at the estate over the last century. But it was a small market, complicated by the way that top Bordeaux is sold: Bordeauxs custom is to sell its wines two years before they are bottled. Chateau Lafite Rothschild is known for its best drinking and should reach its peak maturity between the ages of 15 and 60. When we discussed the 08, I said, Why dont we do that? Salin recalls. Will there be any dramatic changes at the heart of the wine world? Take a wild guess. The 1982 Lafite-Rothschild is a wine I have drunk several times, though maybe this is the first time in magnum. Therefore, a soil that is too fertile may not be what's best for a vineyard; an arid hillside may yield richer grapes than a green stretch of land by a river. Third, Lafite ages its wine for a longer period of time than most other producers. Am Gaumen komplex, dabei saftig und elegant, extraktse Frucht, prsente Tannine, etwas schwarzer Tee, leicht adstringent, hat den robusten Kern aller guten 82er, hat Tiefgang, dunkle Schokolade, aber auch Nuancen von roter Frucht im Abgang, sehr gute Lnge, ausgezeichnetes weiteres Reifepotenzial. This bottle was a Bordeaux, a 1787 Chateau Lafite, and, according to The Guinness Book of World Records, 18 years later it still is the world's most expensive bottle of wine.Its great age alone . Grand Tasting of 1982 - Fine Wines SG Our company is the leading company of still equipment in China, with the strength of providing vodka, gin, run, whisky, brandy making machines. When Salin joined Lafite as its new director in 1985, he intended to use Lafites reputation to full advantage. He enjoys participating in the final blending, though is willing to be overruled by his team of professionals. However, it should be difficult for you to buy a real bottle of 82 Lafite nowadays, as it is relatively rare and some wine merchants and collectors do not offer it easily, so we can only look at it from afar but not play with it. Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. A bottle of 1869 Chteau Lafite Rothschild holds the world record for the most expensive bottle of wine sold at auction for $233,973 in 2010. Well, youd hardly keep it under the stairs, would you? Most often asked questions related to bitcoin! A bottle of Lafite can cost upwards of $500, making it one of the most expensive wines on the market. [9][10][11][12][13][14] The authenticity of the bottle has been challenged. The Lafite Rothschild vineyards in the Bordeaux region of France produce a wide range of red, white, and ros wines. In 2011, he moved forward with planting grapes in Chinas Shandong Province and soon after built a new winery named Long Dai. Fourth, Lafite is one of the most prestigious wine producers in the world. In 2001 he wrote: So much on show, so much left to show., Clive Coates MW writing a year later, thought the wine fresh, classy and intense, adding: It will get even better as it gets more decadent.. There was a lot at stake. The purity of fruit here really pushes through to the finish. BEVERLY HILLS A case of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac, one of three such cases with bottles in original tissue, realized $41,175 to top Heritage Auctions' $1.76 million Wine Signature Auction, which sold 100% by value and 100% by lot. [2] In the 17th century, the property of Chteau Lafite was purchased by the Sgur family, including the 16th century manor house that still stands. The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America have claimed teenagers are buying wine online. Lafite 1982 Leads $820,000 Christie's Online Wine Auction Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien, France, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, France. The 1982, considered one of the best vintages of last century . A case of 1982 Chateau Lafite helped Christies International raise $819,715 in its first exclusively online wine auction yesterday. - Dusseldorf - Germany. To give you the best search experience, we use cookies for remembering your search filters, personalizing content, and analyzing how the website is used. Discover our range of fine wines from around the world. Having already established a presence in Japan, Taiwan, and the more independent Asian mainland cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai, they saw China as the next big market, as soon as Communist rule permitted it. 1982 Lafite Rothschild Bordeaux Red - Sokolin LLC Christies International Head of Wine Tim Triptree MW explains why its so highly sought after. That initial purchase was the start to Lafite Rothschild becoming the most expensive, sought after brand in the Chinese and Asian markets. The wine is without a doubt one of the best Bordeaux wines to come out. DBR Lafite was not the first major French company to invest in Chinese terroir, but its presence was an important vote of confidence in Chinas future as a wine producing country. This was an headline vintage of outstanding quality throughout Bordeaux, with ripeness levels not seen for many years. The winning bid was by far the highest price ever paid for a single bottle of wine. Past performance is not indicative of future results. It was predicted to earn about $666 a bottle, assuming there were buyers. The remaining vintage years of the 21st century have all otherwise been reasonable quality, although the 2013, 2010 and 2005 stand out above the rest. Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 2000. World's Most Expensive Wines - Forbes ! So, what makes Lafite wine so expensive? The past few years have seen big price hikes for fine wine, but market patience might be wearing thin. There are two seriously beautiful vintages on our hands, and theyre both fantastic. The wine producers were classified according to a chteaus reputation and trading price, which, at that time, was directly related to quality. takes place, to which wine merchants and journalists are invited to taste the wine while its still in the barrel. The wines are then released to wholesalers, who get it at a lower price than everybody else. It is deeply impressive. It is undoubtedly one of the very best wines to come out of Bordeaux. GB 129 9514 84 | AWRS No. When the 1855 classification was made, Lafite was listed first among the four first growths earning the reputation 'the first among the firsts'. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety, but in some vintages Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot play a part in the blend. PO Box 607Pismo Beach, CA 93448Phone: 805.541.5868Fax: 805.434.9380. Aile dArgent, at less than $100 per bottle, is more affordable, while Le Petite Mouton costs around $100. Chateau Lafite is considered an expensive wine, but its price point varies depending on the vintage. 06350591 | VAT No. CA: Los Angeles. Critic tasting note: "(2002) Similar colour, but has retained more depth at core. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. The growing season follows a similar pattern to 2016, 2018 and 2019, in that we had a wet spring followed by a dry, hot summer, topped off by a warm, dry harvest. Case of 1982 Lafite tops auction at $42k 12 May 2014 By Lauren Eads An original wood case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 was the top selling item at Zachys' New York Spring auction this. Indeed, some criticised the vintage at the time for an almost Napa-like (thus atypical) opulence and predicted a short life for the wines. Why is the 82 Lafite so expensive? In der Nase feines florales Bukett, nach Herzkirschen, zart nach Orangenzesten, Lakritze und Brombeeren klingen an, floral nach Lilien, ein Hauch von Zedernholz, Steinpilzen und Schokolade. Pauillac is a well-regardeda commune and appellation on Bordeaux's Mdoc peninsula. But Salin had something up his sleeve that he hoped would give the auction a boost. Salin had not only helped open up the Chinese market for fine wines, he was now helping to open Western markets to prestige wines made in China. Across all vintages Lafite Rothschild is one of the most expensive wines in the world, with the average price per 750 ml bottle reaching $911. And the owners of Lafite's range of basic Bordeaux generic wines called Lgende sell . The wines are then released to wholesalers, who get it at a lower price than everybody else. The only known bottle in the Imperial format was expected to sell for between US$150,000-$200,000, but smashed its estimates to sell for $304,375 (192,000). Bordeaux are known for their age-ability. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, 1787 . The 2005 and 2000 vintages of Carruades de Lafite have skyrocketed in price due to increased demand from China, with the 2005 vintage fetching more than 10,000 per case and the 2000 vintage fetching nearly 12,000. Instead of committing early, the Chinese preferred to wait until nearer the time when the wine was actually ready to ship before jumping in. In terms of red Bordeaux, the wines of Pauillac are classic versions characterised with intense blackcurrant flavours and aromas that develop into pencil lead, cedar and cigar box with age. The 2011 in particular has immense aging potential. The first reference dates back to 1234 and the name Lafite derives from the historic language term fite, which means mound or hillock, and describes their plateau which is one of the highest spots in the appellation. Chteau Lafite Rothschild is a French wine estate of Bordeaux wine, located in Pauillac in France, owned by members of the Rothschild family since the 19th century, and rated as a First Growth under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. . The style of wines proved a terrific shot in the arm for claret, especially on the US market. Why collectors love Chteau Lafite Rothschild wine | Christie's Firstly, there is the 1982 vintage. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. The first two bottles of the lucky 2008 vintage, with an estimated lot price of $6,000 to $8,000, sold for $34,316 each. Should go on for decades. Were the worlds first wine discovery platform with a simple matchmaking mission: to pair people with bottles that bring them joy. He knew the number eight is considered extremely lucky in Chinese culture, so hed arranged to have the Chinese symbol for the 8 in 2008 discreetly engraved in the lucky color red, just above the label. With Christmas around the corner, here's this year's best Bordeaux in case you need to stock up. Perhaps spurred on by the enthusiasm of the proprietors, the press and trade mostly reacted very positively, and 1982 was soon regarded as a blue-chip vintage, confirmed by steadily rising prices for the top wines. The chteaux take these reactions into account when they come up with the wines release price. 03606414. There is a deep seam of black plum and liquorice with some nuances of minerals and earth, but this is deep, dense and savoury. The debonair Baron Eric is serious about his wines. Chateau Lafite Rothschild | Pauillac | Wine Academy | Cult Wines 2010 saw a return to form. It simply oozes class. It was rated second class after being classified as Deuxime Grand Cru in 1855. Lafite only produces a few thousand cases of wine each year, which drives . It looks like a hill, and Lafite is located on the slope of a hill. Back in 2010 an Asian buyer made wine history when they purchased three bottles of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild for US$232,692 (163,000) per bottle. [3] Although vines almost certainly already existed on the site, around 1680, Jacques de Sgur planted the majority of the vineyard. She is the youngest woman leading a Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux estate. Understanding Price: Behind The World's Most Expensive Wines The best Chateau Lafite Rothschild should be aged at least 15 years in a glass. In the years 1945 to 1961, the best time to drink Lafite Rothschild wines is from September to November. Bloomberg Best features the best stories of the day from Bloomberg Radio, Bloomberg Television, and 120 countries around the world. Led by media professionals, The Drop is an entity in its own right, free of commercial interference of any kind. This lengthy aging process adds to the cost of the wine. I believe Lafites popularity, particularly in Asia can be partly attributed to these characteristics of approachability in youth, the finesse and elegance combined with significant ageing potential. Is Chateau Lafite an expensive wine? In some cases, it will be different depending on the vintage character. The 1982, considered one of the best vintages of last century, was the most expensive lot fetching $42,350, including a 21 percent commission known as buyers premium. Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. in 2017, China had in a few short years asserted itself as a wine-buying nation equal to anywhere in Europe or the Americas. Cask tastings revealed a vintage of almost Port-like richness and weight. Not only that, but while Hong Kong had its share of wealthy collectors, wine drinking was not yet widespread in mainland China. What Makes Lafite Wine So Expensive? - SloWine Bordeaux and French wines in general had made a practice of catering to large wallets and fine palates around the world, always with an eye on the next market. A good Bordeaux from a good year can age for decades because the tannins in the wine act as a natural preservative. Phone: +254 727 612 142. Across all vintages Lafite Rothschild is one of the most expensive wines in the world, with the average price per 750 ml bottle reaching $911.. What year is the most expensive Lafite? A bottle of Lafite can cost upwards of $500, making it one of the most expensive wines on the market. Manage Cookies Accept & Continue. 2 magnums per lot. There is a deep seam of black plum and liquorice with some nuances of minerals and earth, but this is deep, dense and savoury. Lafite only produces a few thousand cases of wine each year, which drives up the price. Baron Eric de Rothschild, the current manager, was already running Lafite in 1982. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot. Maybe youre looking for the perfect prosecco to bring to a surprise party. Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 1869 163,000. It looks like a hill, and Lafite is located on the slope of a hill. Direct from the producer, in-stock and available for sale at the price shown. View our latest reports to see how the fine wine market is doing. A look at the Bordeaux vintage that retailers are backing as the best in years. There is no doubt that this is one of the best Bordeaux wines ever made. The Anglocentric language of wine is increasingly exclusive to the wider wine world. Chteau Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac, France, Get the best stories from Christies.com in a weekly email, *We will never sell or rent your information. When young, it is really difficult to understand despite being more . Or youre an unabashed cork dork hunting for that Slovenian stunner you sipped on vacation. More shipping infoShipping info. The Global Financial Crisis was still in full swing, and collectors across the world, including in the all-important U.S. market, had abandoned expensive wines. French wine production from the 2017 harvest will fall to historic lows due to damage from spring frosts, officials have estimated. There was also plenty of the 2008 vintage on offer, but its fate was less certain. But what happened that night wasnt just a coup for Lafite. drinkable). The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths (crus), with four first growths listed initially (Mouton Rothschild was added in 1973). 1982 Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac (1.5L) - SKU 998155 - K&L Wines An original wood case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 was the top selling item at Zachys' New York Spring auction this week selling for $41,650. 2023 Union Press Ltd | Wigglesworth House, Fourth Floor, 69 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HH, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7803 2420 [19], Across all vintages Lafite Rothschild is one of the most expensive wines in the world, with the average price per 750 ml bottle reaching $1175. Little did he know that the "82 Bordeaux would be released to the public as being slow to ripen and full of potential. To recap what we all know to have been a great season, 1982 saw a dry and mild spring, allowing an excellent flowering followed by a dry and hot summer with regular small showers and fresher nights in August. The vintage 1869 bottles -- sold in a single lot -- went for multiples more than expected . Lafite is blessed with a fantastic terroir near to the Gironde estuary in the northern part of Pauillac, close to the border with St-Estphe. Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 Cheval Blanc 1982 Petrus 1982. The problem was that the Chinese had never bought much at En Primeur, Salin recalled recently. The Pauillac appellation is where the other First Growths Chteau Latour and Chteau Mouton Rothschild are located. Mixed formats support both near- and long-term drinking. The vineyard is one of the largest in the Mdoc at 107 hectares, and produces around 35,000 cases annually, of which between 15,000 and 25,000 are first growth. The estate then became the joint property of his three sons: Alphonse, Gustave and Edmond Rothschild. Drinks Business Asia edition? Returns are calculated in GBP and results may vary depending on exchange rates. Then it indirectly helped to advertise Lafite '82. Musk Made a Mess at Twitter. The 1982 vintage is one of the best wines I have had the privilege to taste when it is on song, with impressive concentration of cassis fruit character with the classic cedar and cigar box aromatics, supremely well balanced and the finish went on and on a truly impressive wine! This moniker has stood the test of time, with modern-day Lafite still commanding more demand and attention globally than it's first growth counterparts. Offered in The Treasury: Finest Wines from a Peerless Collection on 29 September 2022 at Christies in London. Wine-Searcher's historical data and benchmark analysis provides trustworthy and valuable insights into likely market trends. Wine Legend: Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 1982, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France Bottles produced: No record Composition: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc Yield: 40 hectolitres per hectare Alcohol level: 12.5% Release price: 170 francs per bottle (around 17), which rose on the export market to 225Fr (22.50) It may be early in the marathon that is Bordeaux En Primeurthe worlds biggest weeklong barrel-tasting eventbut its not too soon to say that 2016 is a great vintage overall. What does "Lafite in 1982" mean?Where does this "stalk" come from and I was blessed to have drunk quite a number of Petrus vintages. Yes, take me to the Asia edition That is certainly the case with the 1982 Lafite. Estimate: 3,0004,000. Although Lafite was still somewhat unknown in China, it had been a household word around the world for centuries, dating its history back until at least the 1200s. 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac, France, Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac, France. The recent story about the world's most Googled beer doesn't appear to add up. Chteau Mouton Rothschild was promoted to the Premier Grand Cru Class after a long campaign for promotion in 1973. ). Analysis of the reasons for this may be as follows. The vines are planted in well-drained soil made up of fine, deep gravel, mixed with aeolian sand on a subsoil of tertiary limestone. Amid China's Boom, Fake Wines Proliferate - The New York Times It is considered by some to be the best wine to come out of Bordeaux. Lafite was one of five wine-producing chateaus of Bordeaux originally awarded First Growth status in the 1855 Classification. Theres no winemaker at Lafite, but the technical director then was Jean Crt (ex-Loville-Las-Cases). The legend of Lafite | JancisRobinson.com