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Red dry
A First Growth since 1855 and the purest symbol of Pauillac aristocracy, Château Lafite Rothschild is more than a wine — it is a cultural icon. Its style has long been defined by a rare combination of expressive structure, immaculate tannin architecture, and the legendary, almost weightless Lafite elegance often referred to as “aristocratic restraint.”
The 2016 vintage stands among the greatest of the 21st century in Pauillac. A long, dry summer and perfectly preserved acidity produced a wine where power and transparency coexist in remarkable harmony.
The aroma unfolds slowly, almost ceremonially. At first: blackcurrants, graphite, cedar and wild mushrooms. With air, notes of tobacco leaf, delicate florals, a faint smokiness and Pauillac’s signature dark herbaceous nuance emerge. Over time, shades of damp earth, wet stone, subtle vanilla and pressed flowers appear, adding quiet depth.
On the palate, the wine reveals its pedigree instantly. The structure is monumental, yet the movement feels effortless and poised. Tannins are polished and refined; acidity is vibrant and linear, holding the wine’s spine with precision. Flavours of ripe dark berries intertwine with cedar, graphite, subtle spice and gentle herbal lift. The finish is extraordinarily long, pure and mineral, leaving behind a lingering trace of warm smoke and black fruit. This is Lafite at its most classical: not displaying power, but allowing you to sense it — slowly, gracefully, aristocratically.
The estate’s character derives from one of the most exceptional Médoc terroirs, where gravel, sand and clay sit in perfect proportion, enabling Cabernet Sauvignon to reach a hypnotic elegance found almost nowhere else. It is this landscape that made Lafite a global benchmark.
Harvesting is done entirely by hand, followed by a meticulous three-stage berry selection. Fermentation takes place in both stainless steel and wooden vats to preserve the crystalline purity of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is then aged 18–20 months in French oak barrels, about 80–100% new — yet the oak never dominates. Instead, it provides a subtle, quiet frame, allowing fruit and terroir to speak with unmistakable clarity.
Serve at 16–18 °C with roast duck with blackcurrant glaze, dry-aged beef tenderloin with mushroom and truffle sauce, and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with rosemary.
Château Lafite Rothschild is one of the most famous and prestigious Bordeaux wine estates in the world, located in the Pauillac appellation of the Médoc region. For several centuries, this name has been regarded as the ultimate benchmark of classic Bordeaux wine, symbolizing elegance, longevity, and impeccable quality.
The history of the estate dates back to the 17th century, and by the 18th century Lafite wines were already highly prized in European royal courts. In the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Château Lafite Rothschild was awarded the highest distinction of Premier Grand Cru Classé, a status that continues to confirm its exceptional position among the greatest Bordeaux producers.
The vineyards occupy some of the finest terroir in Pauillac, where the soils consist of layers of gravel and fine subsoil, ideally suited to the ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ grape variety. This terroir allows the grapes to ripen evenly while maintaining natural acidity, giving the wines their mineral backbone and remarkable depth of structure. The dominant variety on the estate is ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, complemented by ‘Merlot’, ‘Cabernet Franc’, and ‘Petit Verdot’. This composition defines the classic Lafite style: powerful yet elegant, concentrated, and of the very highest level.
The winemaking philosophy of Château Lafite Rothschild is based on meticulous vineyard work and deep respect for the character of the land. Harvesting is carried out by hand, and each parcel is vinified separately in order to reveal its individual expression. After fermentation, the wines are aged in French oak barrels, a significant proportion of which are new. The aging process is long and carefully controlled, resulting in complex, harmonious, and exceptionally long-lived wines.
Château Lafite Rothschild wines are renowned for their refined aromatic profile, dominated by notes of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, graphite, and spices. Their texture is silky, the tannins are extraordinarily precise, and the structure is firm yet never aggressive. These are wines that often reach their peak only after 15–25 years of aging and can continue to evolve for many decades.
Today, Château Lafite Rothschild remains one of the most iconic symbols of Bordeaux, bringing together centuries of tradition, an outstanding terroir, and winemaking mastery at the very highest level.
