Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 2000

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CHATEAU LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD 100 Hectares: 71 Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 Merlot, 3 Cabernet Franc, 1 Petit Verdot. Production 480,000 bottles Second Wine: Carruades de Lafite The name Lafite comes from the Gascon language term "la hite", which means "hillock". The estate is situated at the northern end of Pauillac, close to Cos d'Estournel which is just over the border in St-Estèphe. The vineyard consists of three major areas: the hillsides around the Château, the adjacent Carruades plateau to the west, and 4.5 hectares in neighboring Saint Estèphe (which is entitled to the Pauillac appellation). The well-drained soils are deep fine gravel up to 4 metres deep mixed with Aeolian sands on bedrock of tertiary limestone. The best area is on slightly raised land known as the plateau which is just south of the chai where the gravel is very deep and has excellent drainage. Where there are dips in the land, Merlot is normally planted and drainage channels have had to be installed. There are many variations of aspects and soils and consequently the winemakers try and vinify as many lots separately as possible and the same vineyard workers are assigned the same parcels year after to year to ensure they have a deep understanding of the vines and terroir. The average age of the vines on the whole estate is 30 years old. There are some vines younger than 10 years old (about 20 hectares) which are not used in the Grand Vin. Therefore the average age of the vines used in the Grand Vin is 40 years. 18 hectares of vines are more than 50 years old and the oldest plot, called "La Gravière", are 115 years old, having been planted in 1886. Vine density ranges from 7,500 to 8,800 vines per hectare. The estate is run by a team that includes the technical director Charles Chevallier, wine maker Christophe Congé, assisted by the consultant oenologist, Jacques Boissenot and the vineyard manager Régis Porfilet. Only minimal interventions of fertilizers are used. Yields are kept low and harvesting is done by hand in approximately 12 days by up to 350 pickers. Grapes are sorted in the vineyard before being brought in to the two reception bays where different plots are vinifed separately. Vinification takes place half in stainless steel tanks which are equipped with computerized temperature control and half in traditional oak vats, with no cold soak or pigeage. Malolactic fermentation also takes place in the vats before the wine is transferred into new oak barriques (the estate produces its own barrels in their cooperage- very little new oak is used for Carruades) where it remains for between 18 to 20 months until bottling normally in June. Approximately one third is destined for the Grand Vin; 40 for Carruades and the remainder is sold simply as Pauillac AC. Lafite is renowned for its finesse and subtlety and is often considered as more accessible young than a Château Latour or Mouton Rothschild, as Stephen Brook in his new book, The Complete Bordeaux summarised; "for elegance choose Lafite". The following lots (572 to 1238) are lying under bond at Octavian, Corsham. They are all of excellent appearance and are offered in original wooden cases or cartons. IMPORTANT NOTICE PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THE LOTS IN THIS SALE ARE OFFERED IN BOND ONLY. UK EXCISE DUTY, CLEARANCE VAT AND DELIVERY CHARGES WILL NOT BE INCLUDED ON ANY SALE INVOICES SHOULD YOU REQUIRE YOUR PURCHASES TO BE DELIVERED TO A UK MAINLAND ADDRESS DUTY PAID, WE CAN ARRANGE FOR THE APPLICABLE UK CUSTOMS AND DELIVERY CHARGES TO BE INVOICED TO YOU SEPARATELY FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT SHONA MCINTOSH OR ANTONIA ESSEX IN THE WINE DEPARTMENT

12 bottles per lot

Details

Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 2000
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Tasting Note: Three notes, from an aromatic, fleshy, extended cask sample in March 2001, two very recent: impressive depth and colour, velvety sheen, long legs; very sweet, delicious, fragrant aroma; fairly sweet on the palate, very crisp, perfect weight (12.5, attractive. Great future. Last tasted March 2006 *(****) 2010 - 2023. M.B.
12 bottles per lot

Special notice

ParcelWineBuyers from within the EU: VAT payable at 17.5% on just the buyer's premium (NOT the hammer price) Buyers from outside the EU: VAT payable at 17.5% on hammer price and buyer's premium. If a buyer, having registered under a non-EU address, decides that an item is not to be exported from the EU, then he/she should advise Christie's to this effect immediately. Please note that all the lots in this Sale are offered in Bond Only. UK Excise duty, Clearance VAT and delivery charges will not be included on any Sale invoices. Should you require your purchases to be delivered to a UK mainland address duty paid, we can arrange for the applicable UK Customs and delivery charges to be invoiced to you separately. For more information please contact Shona McIntosh or Antonia Essex in the Wine dept. smcintosh@christies.com aessex@christies.com

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