At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Bordeaux, France
- Estate wine
- Château Lafite Rothschild, red wine, 2010
- Second wine
- Carruades de Lafite, red wine, 2010
- Appellations
- Haut Médoc for Château Lafite Rothschild; Médoc for Carruades de Lafite
- Vineyard
- Approximately 107 hectares
The Producer
Château Lafite Rothschild combines a Cabernet Sauvignon led vineyard with a two wine program: the grand vin and Carruades de Lafite, the estate's second wine. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot accompany Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyard.
Saskia de Rothschild became director in 2018. The grand vin ferments in oak and stainless steel vats, then undergoes malolactic fermentation in a dedicated room. It ages for 18 to 20 months in new oak barrels made at the estate's own cooperage. Malolactic fermentation converts sharper malic acidity into softer lactic acidity, while new oak adds seasoning and controlled oxygen during maturation.
Place
The estate's two named wines carry different appellation designations. Château Lafite Rothschild is listed under Haut Médoc, while Carruades de Lafite 2010 is listed under Médoc. Both labels identify red Bordeaux wines, with the appellation line changing from one bottle to the other.
Wines
Château Lafite Rothschild is the grand vin, the principal wine of the estate. Carruades de Lafite is the second wine, made as a separate estate bottling.
The grand vin's final wine blend contains 80 to 95 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 to 20 percent Merlot, with up to 3 percent other varieties. Carruades de Lafite 2010 contains 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.5 percent Merlot, 5 percent Cabernet Franc and 2.5 percent Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon brings tannin and capacity for bottle ageing, while Merlot generally gives softer fruit and a rounder palate.
Final Word
Château Lafite Rothschild traces its origins to 1234, when the property belonged to Gombaud de Lafite. It received Premier Cru status in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Saskia de Rothschild became director in 2018.