Château Mouton Rothschild

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Château Lafite Rothschild Lafite Rothschild is unquestionably one of the very finest wine properties in the world, consistently producing wines that combine their characteristic elegance and finesse with durability and ageability. Lafite was placed first on the list in the 1855 classification of the Médoc, and has rarely failed to excel in the subsequent years, particularly since the 1980's there have been some exceptional wines produced, such as the 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009 & 2010 vintages. The longevity of Lafite is indisputable and vintages such as those from the 18th Century that (if you are lucky enough to find and taste them) are still drinking today; 1848, 1864, 1865, 1870 spring to mind. And also the stellar vintages from the 19th Century, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1959, 1961 that are still offering immense pleasure today. The recent appetite for Lafite had been driven by high demand in Asia, and prices escalated over recent years to reach unprecedented levels. The recent correction in prices has been a welcome relief to traditional customers and aficionados of this magnificent Château, and we are delighted to be offering some exceptional vintages and a broad and enticing selection of Lafite Rothschild from two private collections; the first is being sold by the executors of the estate of Leopold de Rothschild and the second is from a private collection where the wines were purchased direct from the estate on allocation and thus both these collections are single-owner cases, where the wines have not been traded but have remained slumbering and evolving the complex and delightful nuances of mature claret in their respective cellars until packing and collection by Christie's specialist specifically for this sale. The name Lafite originates 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 just over the border in St- Estphe. The vineyard consists of three major areas: the hillsides around the Chteau, 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 a bedrock of tertiary limestone. The 112 hectares of vines are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (70, Merlot (25, Cabernet Franc (3 and Petit Verdot (2. The average age of the vines 35 years, although vines younger than 10 years old are not used in the Grand Vin. 18 hectares of vines are more than 50 years old and the oldest plot, called "La Gravière", was planted in 1886. Normally the final blend of the Grand Vin is assembled from Cabernet Sauvignon (representing between 80 to 95, Merlot (between 5 to 20, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (between 0 to 5, however this depends on the vintage, for example the 1961 was produced from 100 Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate is run by a team overseen by Technical Director Charles Chevallier. 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. Fermentation takes place in traditional oak vats which are equipped with computerized temperature control; maceration on the skins takes place for between 18 and 25 days, depending on the vintage. Malolactic fermentation also takes place in vats before the wine is transferred into 100 new oak barriques (the estate produces its own barrels in their cooperage that employs 5 people; the barrels are from oak harvested in the Alliers & Nivernais forests and are toasted to their specifications) where it remains for between 18 to 20 months until bottling after regular rackings and fining with egg whites; bottling normally takes place in June. In 2010 the Château invested in the construction of two additional vat rooms, equipped with many small vats that enable the separate vinification of the different plots and parcels of wines and enables the wine-making team to strictly control the evolution and blending of the wines. Lafite is renowned for its perfume, finesse and subtlety and is considered more accessible young than the more masculine and tight structured Château Latour. Stephen Brook writing in his book, The Complete Bordeaux summarised; "for elegance choose Lafite".

Above 7 bottles per lot

Details

OUTSTANDING WINES FROM A PRIVATE ESTATE
The following lots 1 to 71 are being sold by the executors of The Late Leopold de Rothschild's estate. The wines were stored in Leopold de Rothschild's private house under optimum conditions in a purpose built temperature and humidity-controlled wine cellar until inspection, packing and removal by Christie's wine specialists in June this year.
Offered in original wooden cases, except the mixed lots which are in Christie's cartons

Now lying in Weybridge, Surrey (EHD)
Château Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
--Vintage 1975
One slightly damaged capsule, one slightly corroded. Bin-soiled labels, damp-affected and glue-striped, one slightly damaged. Levels: one base of neck, three top-shoulder(4)
--Vintage 1982
One slightly damaged capsule. Bin-soiled labels, two slightly damaged, one damp-affected. Levels into neck(3)
Above 7 bottles per lot

Special notice

Change to invoicing/bidding procedure for wines offered in bond (‡ symbol) for London sales from the 1st September 2012: Wines offered in bond may be taken in bond or duty paid. If you choose to take these lots in bond the hammer price will be payable in full. We will no longer deduct excise duty from the hammer price. If you choose to take these lots duty paid, excise duty at the current rate and clearance VAT on the hammer price will be added to your invoice. These charges cannot be cancelled or refunded by Christie’s. Please see the additional conditions of sale for wine set out in the sale catalogue for further details.

Brought to you by

Carolyn Holmes

cholmes@christies.com +44 (0)20 7752 3360

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