History of Château Lafite 1999, Pauillac
Château Lafite Rothschild 1999 comes from a famous vineyard located in
Pauillac, in the Bordeaux region of France. Since the 18th century, it has been known for producing wines of exceptional quality, which enjoy a worldwide reputation.
The estate's origins date back to the 17th century, when it was known as Château Lafite, after the locality where the vineyard was born. The first vines were planted on this "hite" (meaning "hillock" in old Gascon) in 1670 under the supervision of the landowner of the time, Jacques de Ségur.
Alexandre de Ségur and then his son Nicols-Alexandre really helped the vineyard expand. In particular, they helped maximize the estate's financial power in the early 18th century. The estate was subsequently sold no less than six times between 1784 and 1816, before finally falling into the hands of the Vanlerberghe family. For half a century, Château Lafite continued to evolve and develop under Dutch control. Their self-sacrifice was rewarded by the 1855 classification of Lafite as the only Médoc producer.
During the Second World War, the vineyard was occupied by German troops before being taken over by Baron Elie de Rothschild in 1945. The Rothschild family succeeded one another at the head of the château, working to establish the reputation of the cru.
Recently, in 2017, the Baron's daughter Saskia de Rothschild took over as president of the estate. At the same time, Jean-Guillaume Prats, who headed
Cos d'Estournel (Saint-Estèphe) for ten years before taking the reins of LVMH's Estates ans Wines division, succeeds Christophe Salin and will take over as the group's general manager on March 31, 2018. Christophe Salin will be appointed Group Senior Advisor to ensure the continuity of this transition.
Grape varieties and characteristics of Château Lafite Rothschild 1999
In the
Château Lafite Rothschild vineyards, different grape varieties are grown. The 1999 Lafite wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (74%), Merlot (18.5%), with light touches of Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petit Verdot (1.5%).
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the main grape varieties of the Bordeaux region. Merlot is known for its sweetness, maturity and elegance. Cabernet Sauvignon brings a more robust, full-bodied, tannic character.
Château Lafite Rothschild generally produces wines ranging from 12.5° to 14°. For Château Lafite Rothschild 1999, the alcohol level is 12.5°, offering an elegant, medium-bodied wine with a soft mouthfeel. It has a lovely, deep, intense red color.
Other Pauillac wines include those from
Château Duhart-Milon.
We offer other Château Lafite vintages such as
1992 and
2000.
Rated 95/100 by Robert Parker
