In the glass
Aroma: creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, unsmoked tobacco, cedar, graphite, dark cherries
Palate: crème de cassis, blackberries, violets, cigar box, warm spices, gravelly minerality
The archetype of Pauillac first-growth: Cabernet-dominant, with penetrating lead pencil and cassis aromatics, precise fine-grained tannins, and a finish that evolves over decades.
What it pairs with
-
Roast rack of lamb with herbs de Provence
The wine's grippy tannins and cassis core cut the rich fat of lamb while the herbal notes find an echo. -
Aged Comté or Mimolette
The crystalline salt of aged hard cheese amplifies Lafite's cedar and pencil shaving register. -
Roasted Pauillac lamb (agneau de Pauillac)
The local AOC lamb is classically paired with first-growth Pauillac; the wine's structure mirrors the lamb's sweet, fine-grained flesh. -
Truffle-crusted beef fillet
Black truffle's earthy depth resonates with Lafite's mushroom and graphite tones in mature vintages.
How to serve Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass. The bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast rack of lamb with herbs de Provence, Aged Comté or Mimolette, Roasted Pauillac lamb (agneau de Pauillac). Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Records of Lafite Rothschild winemaking stretch to the 17th century; the estate was already renowned at Versailles in the 18th century. The Rothschild family acquired it in 1868. The oldest surviving confirmed bottle dates to 1797. The grand vin is one of five original Premier Cru Classe wines in the 1855 Medoc classification.
- 1855 — Classified as one of four original Premier Cru Classe in the Medoc classification (alongside Latour, Margaux, and Haut-Brion)
- 1868 — Purchased by Baron James Mayer de Rothschild at auction
- 2024 — Estate achieves full organic certification (Ecocert) across all 112 hectares under Saskia de Rothschild
Facts
- Producer
- Chateau Lafite Rothschild
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Merlot (8%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Petit Verdot (2%)
- Classification
- Pauillac AOC, Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification)
- Oak
- 18 to 20 months in 100% new French oak barriques
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- $700-1200 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-50 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1797
- Organic
- ECOCERT
Scores
- Wine Advocate 100 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
- Wine Advocate 100 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2021)
- Wine Spectator 100 (1996 vintage, reviewed 1999)
Frequently asked about Chateau Lafite Rothschild
What does Chateau Lafite Rothschild taste like?
On the nose, creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, unsmoked tobacco, cedar, graphite. On the palate, crème de cassis, blackberries, violets, cigar box, warm spices. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long with graphite and cedar finish. The archetype of Pauillac first-growth: Cabernet-dominant, with penetrating lead pencil and cassis aromatics, precise fine-grained tannins, and a finish that evolves over decades.
When should I drink Chateau Lafite Rothschild?
Drink 10-50 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Chateau Lafite Rothschild?
Roast rack of lamb with herbs de Provence is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Aged Comté or Mimolette and Roasted Pauillac lamb (agneau de Pauillac). The wine's grippy tannins and cassis core cut the rich fat of lamb while the herbal notes find an echo.
What grapes are in Chateau Lafite Rothschild?
The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Merlot (8%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Petit Verdot (2%). The wine is classified as Pauillac AOC, Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification).