Two bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild
1988 vintage
Pauillac, Bordeaux/France
Original filling quantity: 0.75 l
Fill level: into neck
Robert Parker (1994): 94/100
James Suckling (2009): 94/100
René Gabriel (2011): 18/20

This lot comprises two bottles of 1988 vintage Château Lafite Rothschild from the Pauillac appellation in Bordeaux.

The Pauillac appellation produces some of the world’s most highly prized and expensive red wines. Situated to the northwest of the city of Bordeaux, near the Atlantic coast, its vineyards are located on dried-out swamplands. Vines take root in gravel dunes with subterranean clay lens. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon can develop a unique depth of taste and power, so the grape variety therefore makes up a large percentage of the Pauillac cuvées. The tannin-rich, powerful, concentrated wines require longer bottle-ageing in order to differentiate and reveal their taste. The Classification of 1855 put the vineyards of the Lafite-Rothschild and Latour estates ahead of the pack, awarding them Premier cru status. Mouton-Rothschild has also belonged to the club since 1973. In second place are the Deuxième crus of Pichon-Longueville-Baron and Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse de Lalande. For decades, however, experts have judged them as being at least on a par with their Premier cru counterparts. This is also the case for numerous other top wines from this appellation.

The 1988 vintage Château Lafite Rothschild was rated 94 points by Robert Parker in 1994. The wine was rated also 94 points by James Suckling in 2009. The wine was rated 18 of 20 points by René Gabriel in 2011.

The fill levels are excellent (into neck). The labels are soiled and slightly damaged; the capsules are in perfect condition.

Château Lafite Rothschild

Château Lafite Rothschild, owned by the Rothschild family since the 19th century, is arguably the most famous wine estate in the world. It is one of only four Châteaus that were classified as Premier Cru Classé for the Paris World Fair in 1855. The winery is located in Pauillac, next to the equally eminent Château Mouton-Rothschild. The vineyards of these two estates lie on a hilltop, up to 30 m high, with soil mostly made up of free-draining gravel. This makes it ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Due to the gravel, the vine plants must dig their roots deep into the soil and thus absorb more nutrients, influencing the wine’s bouquet. Furthermore, the gravel leads to a favourable thermal balance, which results in earlier maturation. The winery is advised by the oenologist Jacques Boissenot and his son Eric.

Château Lafite Rothschild has an acreage of 103 hectares. The grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon (71 %), Merlot (25 %), Cabernet Franc (3 %) and Petit Verdot (1 %) are cultivated there. The average age of the vines is 30 years, and 40 years for the first wine.

Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.