The history of Château Lafite tells us that the renowned Italian opera composer Giacomo Rossini was the one who, in his time, convinced his good friend Baron James de Rothschild to purchase a estate in the Médoc region of Bordeaux. There, the two could “rest a bit and enjoy some good wine.” The Baron, the youngest of the five Rothschild brothers, listened, was persuaded, and acquired Château Lafite, already known for its excellent wines. In the year 1868, when there was still a bottle of preserved wine with the initials TJ in the cellar, Thomas Jefferson, the American president who had a keen understanding of wine, visited. (By the way, this bottle was sold in 1985 at a Christie’s auction in London for $156,450, the highest amount ever paid for a bottle of wine.)
Just four months after the purchase, the two friends passed away, with a day’s difference between their deaths, and all the wealth of Lafite’s wines passed down as an inheritance to the Rothschild family. Today, the property is in the hands of Eric de Rothschild, the fifth-generation descendant. The Château building has remained the same since its construction in the 16th century, including the uncomfortable low furniture. The wine also continues to uphold its good name, according to the Bordeaux list from 1885.
“The winery, owner of the world’s first circular cellar, is a testament to both originality and practicality in its design. Above the central part of the cellar, a cupola – a roof in the shape of a dome – is constructed, rising or lowering as needed according to the external temperature. This is done to maintain the desired temperature and humidity levels within the cellar. Hundreds of barrels, all in Bordeaux red, are arranged in a circle at the heart of the cellar, beneath the rising roof.
In summary: its name precedes it. Hat’s off to Château.”
