A Period Cartoon which hangs in the WC at Chateau Lafite
On my recent trip to Bordeaux I was invited (=I tagged along) to an exclusive tour and subsequent dinner at Château Lafite Rothschild. Château Lafite Rothschild is undoubtedly one of the most famous wine producers in France and it makes some of the best regarded red wines in Bordeaux. Chateau Lafite (‘lafite’means little hill) is located in the small village of Pauillac —an idyllic setting in the in the Medoc,north-west of Bordeaux. The area is celebrated for wines and was noted for fine vintages as early as the 13th century;indeed historical records show that wine produced at this vineyard were sold at auctions in London in 1707.
On 8 August 1868,the Château was taken over by Baron James Rothschild and the estate became known as Château Lafite Rothschild. Poor Baron James died just three months after buying the vineyard,before he could enjoy the fruits of his labour,which then became the joint property of his three sons:Alphonse,Gustave,and Edmond.
During the 2nd World War,the Château was occupied by the Germans (who treated it quite well as the occupying Commandant was the German wine buyer of Rothschilds!),but then rose to fame again from 1945,when it was repossessed by Baron Elie Rothschild. Since 1974,ChâteauLafite Rothschild has been managed by Baron Eric,who hosted our dinner.
The red wine produced at Château Lafite Rothschild has always been sought after and therefore expensive. Interestingly, prices have soared especially high in the last decade,as Chateau Lafite Rothschild wines have become a status symbol in China. Apparently the Chinese obsession with Rothschild was sparked by a nation-wide marketing campaign with product placement of Lafite Rothschild wines in popular Chinese soaps. According to the Telegraph,even empty Rothschild wine bottles sell for 300 Dollars in China.
Thinking of buying a bottle? start saving!
the 'little hill'where this famous wine is grown
We had an exclusive tour through the winery. I had problems understanding our excellent guide’s English (a strong French accent is a challenge even for an Austrian!),so I can’t tell you any secrets about Rothschild’s wine making process. Sorry! In the end I am not all that interested in the theory of wine,and am more intrigued by practice (in form of the subsequent wine tasting). To be really absolutely honest with you,I thought the Rothschild wine was very good,but worth so much money? NEVER!!
wooden containers to store the wine after harvest
barrels of 10 different barrel makers where the young wine is stored to ripen
The eerie vaults with the oldest bottle stored there dating back to 1784
The Lafite or "'little hill"-- to the right
After the tour through the vineyard,we had the opportunity to dress up and then we joined Baron Eric de Rothschild for dinner. The whole evening felt like a scene out of a period movie set in the rooms of a museum like The Wallace Collection. The baron appeared at his door to greet us and was immaculately attired in a dinner jacket made casual by a pair of exquisite Christian Louboutin house slippers. He welcomed us into his library for pre-dinner champagne,an extraordinary Sauterne (Rieussiac) all counterpointed with canapes of foie gras on artisan bread and tiny quiche lorraines.
The living room
Then we were taken to the dining room,where,to my shock,I was sat next to the Baron HIMSELF. I am not very good at small talk,particularly not with the French nobility,so I just drank a lot of the excellent wines which loosened my tongue quite considerably. As far as I can remember,the Baron is a very charming man and an excellent host –full of shrewd humour and he is expert at keeping a soiree alive and kicking….
For the people out there who know more about wines than me,we had the following:
Chateau L’Evangile 1998 (which the Baron compared to a big-busted Bridget Bardot) with the first course of lentil soup.
Chateau Lafite Rothschilde 1990 (apparently more of a Greta Garbo) with the main of roast beef.
and a stunning sauterne, Chateau Rieussec 1988,with the dessert (also available with the Canapes for those who can resist champagne).
I wanted so badly to take pictures,but my (very mean) better half confiscated my camera as he wanted to prevent me running through Chateau Lafite like a Japanese tourist. I did manage to take some pictures in the end though,when we retreated to the drawing room for Armagnac,chocolates and cigars.
the drawing room
The Austrian Rothschild
As the evening drew to a close,the Baron gave each of us a book about the history of Lafite signed personally by himseolf,and then we bade farewell,to return t our sad,middle class world —where we exist without drawing rooms,Louboutin slippers and butlers (which reminds me why I must work harder).
Another artwork hanging in the WC at Lafite....
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