Château Lafite Rothschild, one of Bordeaux’s most esteemed First Growths, is renowned for its elegance, purity, and remarkable ageing ability. Even in more approachable vintages, Lafite’s meticulous vineyard management and precise winemaking produce wines of finesse, aromatic clarity, and timeless Pauillac character. The 1997 vintage offers a beautifully evolved, graceful expression of this iconic estate.
Vineyard
Lafite’s vineyards sit on Pauillac’s most prized deep gravel soils, underpinned by limestone. These well-drained sites provide optimal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing to Lafite’s hallmark graphite, cedar, and mineral lift. Old vines, strict parcel selection, and gentle extraction ensure a refined, classical style.
Vintage
1997 was an early and warm Bordeaux vintage, producing supple, charming wines with softer tannins and earlier approachability. While not as powerful as neighbouring years, top estates like Lafite crafted wines of elegance, balance, and refined aromatic complexity. Today, the 1997 Lafite is drinking beautifully, showing mature nuance and harmony.
Tasting Notes
The 1997 Château Lafite Rothschild offers a lifted bouquet of redcurrant, cedar, graphite, dried flowers, tobacco leaf, and forest floor. The palate is medium-bodied, silky, and poised, with refined red fruit, savoury spice, and Lafite’s signature mineral edge. Gentle, well-resolved tannins and bright acidity carry a long, elegant finish. A graceful, mature Lafite in a perfect drinking window.
Critics’ Acclaim
Praised for elegance, aromatic clarity, and early charm
Appreciated by collectors seeking refined, earlier-drinking Lafite vintages
Technical Information
Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux
Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé (First Growth)
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant
Alcohol: ~12.5%
Drinking Window: Now–2030
A Collectible Gem
The 1997 Château Lafite Rothschild is a beautifully mature Pauillac — elegant, aromatic, and effortlessly refined. An ideal vintage for collectors seeking a graceful, fully evolved expression of Lafite’s timeless style.
