Château LAFITE ROTHSCHILD 1971
The history of the Lafite vineyard is old. On an estate that already had vine plants, Jacques de Ségur structured the vineyard at the end of the 17th century and the reputation of his wine was already established at a good level. His son Alexandre extended the estate by marrying Latour's heiress in 1695. From this union was born Nicolas-Alexandre, who built the prestige and fame of Lafite at the beginning of the 18th century, wine being acclaimed in Versailles and already also across the Channel.
On the latter's death, Lafite knew a succession of owners, it was sold at auction after the Revolution, but the quality was maintained at the best level thanks to the care of its directors, the family of Joseph Goudal. Château Lafite was thus classified 1er Cru in 1855.
In 1868, Baron James de Rothschild acquired the estate (at the auction again) which has since remained the property of his family. Apart from its exceptional terroir (deep gravel soil, based on marl and on a limestone subsoil), the quality is explained in particular by the average age of the vineyard (over 40 years), low yield per hectare and a very strict selection.