Château Lafite Rothschild Premier Cru Classé Pauillac 1996

<p>The history of Ch&acirc;teau Lafite, a prestigious Pauillac wine estate, dates back to the&nbsp;<strong>13th century</strong>, but its global renown as one of Bordeaux's finest wines was solidified under the&nbsp;<strong>S&eacute;gur family in the 17th-18th centuries</strong>&nbsp;and later, the&nbsp;<strong>Rothschild family</strong>&nbsp;from 1868 onwards.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Key Historical Milestones</strong></p> <p><strong>13th-17th Centuries</strong>: First noted as a wine producer in 1234, the estate, whose name derives from the Gascon term "la hite" meaning "mound" or "hillock," was initially a co-seigneury with some land dedicated to vines.</p> <p><strong>17th-18th Centuries: The S&eacute;gur Era</strong>: Jacques de S&eacute;gur structured the vineyard in the late 17th century. His descendant, Marquis Nicolas Alexandre de S&eacute;gur, improved winemaking techniques and introduced the wine to the Court of Versailles, earning it the nickname "<strong>The King's Wine</strong>".</p> <p><strong>1855 Official Classification</strong>: For the Paris Universal Exhibition, the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification ranked Ch&acirc;teau Lafite as the "Premier des Premiers" (First among the First Growths), solidifying its elite status.</p> <p><strong>1868: The Rothschild Acquisition</strong>: Baron James de Rothschild, a prominent banker, purchased Ch&acirc;teau Lafite at a public auction for 4.4 million francs, a record price at the time. He died just three months later, and the estate passed to his three sons.</p> <p><strong>20th Century Challenges</strong>: The estate faced significant challenges, including the phylloxera crisis, economic depression, and the German occupation during World War II, which involved the ransacking of its cellars.</p> <p><strong>Post-War Renaissance</strong>: Under the leadership of Baron &Eacute;lie de Rothschild, the ch&acirc;teau was restored. In the 1970s, Baron Eric de Rothschild took over, modernizing facilities, implementing sustainable practices, and commissioning the distinctive circular cellar designed by architect Ricardo Bofill in 1987.</p> <p><strong>Modern Era</strong>: In 2018, Saskia de Rothschild, Baron Eric's daughter, took over management of the estate, becoming the first woman to lead the Premier Grand Cru estate and focusing on innovation and sustainability.&nbsp;</p> <p>Today, Ch&acirc;teau Lafite Rothschild remains an iconic symbol of quality and longevity in the wine world, known for its elegant, complex wines with exceptional aging potential. The estate is part of the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) group, which also owns other properties globally, including Ch&acirc;teau Duhart-Milon and Ch&acirc;teau L'&Eacute;vangile.&nbsp;</p>

The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild was remarkably deep in color considering that it is now 20 years in age. The bouquet is classic Pauillac with pencil shavings and sous-bois infusing the black fruit, masculine and a little aloof, yet focused and very well delineated. The palate is very well balanced with crisp blackberry and boysenberry fruit, spicier than I recollect, a crescendo of flavors so that it seems understated at first but fans out with a sense of confidence towards the finish. I think this still has more to give so cellar it away for another 5-8 years if you can, but otherwise this is an exemplary Lafite-Rothschild that I can envisage getting better and better in bottle, if not quite as enthralling as either Mouton-Rothschild or Château Margaux. Tasted July 2016. - Wine Advocate

Aroma 香氣

Grape Variety 葡萄品種

Rice Variety 酒米品種

Variety 品種

Cuisine 菜式 French

Food Pairings 食物配搭 Roasted Rack of Lamb with a Rosemary-Jus Lie.