Château Lafite Rothschild

Château Lafite Rothschild is a historic Bordeaux wine estate based in Pauillac, in the Médoc region of France. It is one of the four estates originally ranked as a First Growth, or Premier Cru, in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification; Château Mouton Rothschild became the fifth First Growth after its elevation in 1973. The classification remains central to Lafite’s identity and positions the estate among the most prestigious producers in the world. The property’s documented history reaches back to the thirteenth century, when it was associated with Gombaud de Lafite. Its modern viticultural identity developed under the Ségur family in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Jacques de Ségur planted much of the vineyard around 1680, while Nicolas-Alexandre, Marquis de Ségur, refined production and helped introduce Lafite to influential European consumers. The estate acquired an exceptional reputation in aristocratic circles, where its wine was associated with the French court and became known by the evocative nickname “the King’s wine.” Thomas Jefferson visited Lafite in the eighteenth century and later remained an admirer and customer. The French Revolution ended Ségur ownership after Nicolas Pierre de Pichard was executed in 1794. The property subsequently became public property and was sold to Dutch merchants. During the first half of the nineteenth century it passed through the Vanlerberghe family, a period associated with continued improvements and several highly regarded vintages. In 1868 Baron James Mayer Rothschild acquired the estate for 4.4 million francs. He died only a few months later, leaving Lafite jointly to his sons Alphonse, Gustave and Edmond. The Rothschild name has remained part of the estate’s identity ever since. Lafite experienced both achievement and disruption during the twentieth century. It dealt with the consequences of phylloxera, changing vineyard conditions, and the upheavals of two world wars. During the Second World War, German forces occupied the château and its cellars were heavily plundered. From 1974 to 2018 the estate was directed by Éric de Rothschild, who was succeeded by his daughter Saskia de Rothschild. The estate’s principal vineyard covers approximately 107 hectares. Its plantings are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and smaller proportions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The first wine is produced selectively from the estate’s best lots, while a substantial share is released as Carruades de Lafite, the second wine. Lafite also developed an associated Chinese project in Shandong, where Domaine de Long Dai produced its first vintage in 2019. The brand’s market position combines scarcity, long-term cellaring potential, historic prestige and strong collector demand. Lafite wines are distributed internationally and have frequently commanded exceptional auction prices. That visibility has also made the name a target for counterfeiting, especially in the Chinese market. Today Château Lafite Rothschild remains an active Bordeaux estate whose identity rests on terroir, rigorous selection, Rothschild ownership and the enduring status of the 1855 classification.

Château Lafite Rothschild is a historic wine estate in Pauillac, in Bordeaux's Médoc. Its documented property history begins in the thirteenth century with Gombaud de Lafite. Although vines may have existed earlier, the estate's viticultural structure was substantially developed in the seventeenth century after the Ségur family acquired the property. Jacques de Ségur planted most of the vineyard around 1680, and Nicolas-Alexandre, Marquis de Ségur, later improved winemaking and promoted the wine among elite European consumers. Lafite's reputation expanded in the eighteenth century. Support from the Maréchal de Richelieu helped associate the wine with the French court, contributing to the description “the King's wine.” Thomas Jefferson visited the estate and became a noted customer. The French Revolution brought an abrupt end to Ségur ownership: Nicolas Pierre de Pichard was executed in 1794, after which the estate became public property and was sold to Dutch merchants. The Vanlerberghe family controlled Lafite during much of the first half of the nineteenth century. The estate continued to improve and produced several notable early nineteenth-century vintages. In 1868 Baron James Mayer Rothschild bought Lafite for 4.4 million francs. His death three months later resulted in joint ownership by his sons Alphonse, Gustave and Edmond Rothschild. The estate thereafter became known as Château Lafite Rothschild. The 1855 Bordeaux Classification had already placed Lafite among the four original First Growths, a distinction that remains one of the estate's defining credentials. In the twentieth century, Lafite faced phylloxera and the broader effects of war and economic disruption. German forces occupied the château during the Second World War, and the cellars suffered extensive plundering. Despite these difficulties, the estate retained its classification and international reputation. Éric de Rothschild directed the estate from 1974 until 2018. He was succeeded by Saskia de Rothschild, who became the youngest woman to lead a Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux estate according to the referenced account. Under the modern estate model, Lafite combines a large Pauillac vineyard with strict selection for its first wine and a second wine, Carruades de Lafite. The vineyard is planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The estate has also extended its winemaking activity to China through a Shandong vineyard and Domaine de Long Dai, whose first vintage appeared in 2019. Lafite's scarcity, classification, ageability and association with the Rothschild family have made it a major collector wine. Its high profile has produced extraordinary auction results, including a contested 1787 bottle and highly priced 1869 bottles. The same prestige has encouraged counterfeiting, most notably the seizure of thousands of suspected fake bottles in Wenzhou in 2012. The estate remains active and globally distributed.

1. 2019First Domaine de Long Dai vintage

   The associated Shandong project releases its first vintage under the Domaine de Long Dai name.

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2. 2018Saskia de Rothschild succeeds Éric de Rothschild

   Saskia de Rothschild takes over leadership of the estate.

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3. 1974Éric de Rothschild begins directing the estate

   Éric de Rothschild assumes leadership of Lafite, beginning a period of modern stewardship that lasts until 2018.

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4. 1868Acquisition by Baron James Mayer Rothschild

   Baron James Mayer Rothschild acquires the estate, which subsequently adopts the Lafite Rothschild name.

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5. 1855Lafite receives First Growth status

   The estate is ranked as one of the four original Premier Cru estates in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855.

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6. 1680Major vineyard planting under Jacques de Ségur

   Jacques de Ségur planted much of the vineyard, helping establish the estate's later viticultural identity.

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7. Early recorded association with Lafite

   The property is documented in connection with Gombaud de Lafite.

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Ultra-premium, collectible and terroir-driven Bordeaux wine

• Château Lafite RothschildFirst-growth red Bordeaux wine

  The estate's flagship wine and one of Bordeaux's original First Growths. It is produced from carefully selected lots from the Pauillac vineyard, with Cabernet Sauvignon normally forming the dominant component and Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot contributing structure and complexity. The wine is known for its long aging potential, scarcity, collector demand and association with the Rothschild family and the 1855 classification.

• Carruades de LafiteSecond-label red Bordeaux wine

  Carruades de Lafite is the estate's second wine. It is made from selected grapes that do not enter the first wine's final blend, while retaining the Pauillac estate's stylistic identity. The label became especially prominent among international collectors and consumers during periods of strong demand for Lafite-associated wines.

• Domaine de Long DaiChinese estate red wine2019

  Domaine de Long Dai is associated with Lafite's Shandong vineyard project in China. The vineyard uses French planting material and includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Marselan. Its first vintage was released in 2019, representing an expansion of the Lafite-associated winemaking model beyond Bordeaux.

• 2019Launch of the first Domaine de Long Dai vintageProduct launch

  Lafite had established a second vineyard project in Shandong, China, using French vine stocks and varieties suited to the project.

  What changed. The associated Domaine de Long Dai winery released its first vintage.

  Aftermath. The release marked the estate's expansion into Chinese wine production while retaining a connection to the Lafite identity and expertise.

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• 1868Rothschild acquisition of the estateM&A

  Lafite had passed through several ownership structures following the French Revolution and nineteenth-century transfers.

  What changed. Baron James Mayer Rothschild purchased the Château Lafite property for 4.4 million francs.

  Aftermath. Following his death shortly afterward, the estate became jointly owned by his three sons and adopted the Rothschild name.

  Purchase price. 4.4 million francs (1868)

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• 2012Suspected counterfeit Lafite seized in ChinaControversy

  Police in Wenzhou seized nearly 10,000 bottles suspected of carrying counterfeit Château Lafite Rothschild labels. Reports also described widespread concerns about imitation Lafite in the Chinese market, although precise estimates of the counterfeit share are uncertain.

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• 1985Disputed authenticity of a purported 1787 LafiteControversy

  A bottle sold as a 1787 Château Lafite and believed at the time to have been associated with Thomas Jefferson achieved an exceptional auction price. The authenticity of the bottle was subsequently challenged, making the episode a prominent example of the risks surrounding rare-wine provenance.

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• 2025Château Lafite Rothschild releases its 2024 vintage through the en primeur campaign

  Trade coverage described the 2024 Lafite release as a major Bordeaux en primeur event and highlighted its elegance, deep gravel terroir and long ageing potential.

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• 2023Château Lafite Rothschild releases its 2022 vintage

  The 2022 release was presented as a high-quality, lower-volume vintage offered through Bordeaux's en primeur system, with commentators noting the estate's attention to release pricing.

  Product launchProduct generationPricing
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• 2019Domaine de Long Dai releases its first vintage

  The estate's associated Shandong project in China debuted its first vintage under the Domaine de Long Dai name.

  Product launch
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• 2019Lafite Rothschild Group reorganized its mainland China distribution network

  The group planned to divide distribution rights among four companies in China, reducing ASC’s previous broad exclusivity while assigning different brand portfolios to ASC, Pernod Ricard China, Beijing Obian Trading and Shanghai Bailian Youan.

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• 2018Lafite’s Long Dai project developed its first Chinese vintage

  After years of vineyard research, planting, construction and trial production in Penglai, the Lafite group brought its Chinese estate Domaine de Long Dai toward commercial release.

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• 2010Three 1869 Lafite bottles set a new reported auction high

  Three bottles of 1869 Château Lafite Rothschild sold at Sotheby's in Hong Kong for approximately HK$1.8 million each, widely reported as a new record for a bottle of wine.

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1. Château Lafite Rothschild
2. Chinese Supreme Court upholds trademark and unfair-competition award benefiting Château Lafite Rothschild
3. Counterfeit Lafite bottles were seized in Wenzhou
4. Château Lafite Rothschild releases its 2024 vintage through the en primeur campaign
5. Château Lafite Rothschild releases its 2022 vintage
6. Lafite Rothschild Group reorganized its mainland China distribution network
7. Lafite’s Long Dai project developed its first Chinese vintage