Château Lafite Rothschild Premier Cru Classé Pauillac 2000 (OWC12)

<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>

Since I gave this wine a perfect score, I suppose some could see this as a downgrade. I found everything still there for a perfect rating, but I was just struck by how tight and backward the wine was. A blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, the wine still has a dark ruby/purple color and an extraordinarily youthful nose of graphite, black currants, sweet, unsmoked cigar tobacco, and flowers. The wine is rich, medium to full-bodied, but has that ethereal elegance and purity that is always Lafite. I originally predicted that it would first reach maturity in 2011, but I would push that back by 5-7 years now, although it has 50-60 years of life in front of it. Owners of this beauty are probably best advised to forget it for 5 years. Tasted next to a 1996 several days after the 2000 tasting, the 1996, which is a perfect wine, was far closer to full maturity than the 2000.- 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.