Lot presentation

Cognac Lafite Rothschild Très Vieille Réserve

The wine

The cuvée Réserve de Lafite Rothschild is designed to perpetuate the family’s age-old tradition of producing the finest Cognacs. The eau-de-vie is produced following a rigorous and meticulous artisanal process, which involves the annual selection of over 50-year-old Cognacs from renowned Grande Champagne and Borderies Crus. This rigorous approach results in a complex, elegant spirit, sought after by connoisseurs and collectors the world over.
This Cognac reveals an amber-brown colour, with elegant mahogany reflections. The complex, expressive nose offers hints of wood and vanilla, complemented by notes of dried fruit. The bouquet becomes more complex with floral touches and hints of sweet spices. The remarkably elegant palate displays rich woody aromas, leading to a lingering, flavoursome finish. This balanced, rich Cognac can be cellared for several decades.

About the Producer Château Lafite-Rothschild

The history of the Lafite vineyard goes back a long way. In the late 17th century, Jacques de Ségur restructured the vineyards which already contained some vines. Even before this, his wine was already of a good standard. His son, Alexandre, extended the Chateau Lafite Rothschild estate when he married the heiress of the Latour estate in 1695. Their son, Nicolas-Alexandre, built up the prestige and reputation of Lafite in the 18th century and it was popular at Versailles, as well as in Britain. It was so popular that the wine earnt the title “the wine of kings” from the “prince of vines”.
When he died, Lafite passed through a number of hands and was sold at auction during the French Revolution, but the high quality was preserved, due to the skills of the vineyard managers, Joseph Goudal and his family. Château Lafite was classified premier cru in 1855.
In 1868, Baron James de Rothschild bought the estate at auction, and it has remained in his family ever since. Quality is dictated by an exceptional terroir (a thick layer of gravel on marl, with a limestone subsoil) and also notably by the average age of the vines (over 40 years old), a low yield per hectare and very rigorous selection. During the 1960s and 1970s, the wines were of poorer quality as the management of the property and vinification process were less stringent.
Since 2018, Saskia de Rothschild has been at the head of the group, making her the sixth generation to run the estate. She works tirelessly to maintain the property’s spirit and quality, continuing the work of her ancestors. Driven by a respect for the environment, she acts as a protector of the land and of nature. She has also enriched the wines offered by the château, by adding a new wine called Anseillan – the first since the 19th century.