Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2020
The first mention of the name Lafite, in reference to the estate in Pauillac, was in 1234. At that time Gombaud de Lafite was the abbot of the Vertheuil Monastary. During the 14th century, it was a mid evil fief. Although there may have been some vineyards on the property, In the 16th century, the Segur family is credited with beginning the property as a wine making estate. Jacques Segur planted vineyards in the 1670s and 1680s. In 1695, his heir married the heiress to Chateau Latour. Their son was Nicholas Alexandre de Segur, who is referred to as the Prince of Vines. He controlled Chateau Lafite, Chateau Latour, Chazteau Calon Segur and Chateau Mouton. The final member of the Segur family to own Lafite was Nicolas Pierre de Pichard. He lost his head in the French Revolution and in 1797, Chateau Lafite was sold to Jean de Witt. He had a very short tenure as owner, selling to 3 Dutch partners. The Rothschild era began in 1686 when Baron James de Rothschild purchased the vineyard. The Rothschild family still owns the property.
