why is 1982 lafite so expensive

The move helped establish Lafite as a leader in the market. If youre looking for a special bottle of wine to splurge on, Lafite is a great option. But what happened that night wasnt just a coup for Lafite. Therefore, a soil that is too fertile may not be what's best for a vineyard; an arid hillside may yield richer grapes than a green stretch of land by a river. PO Box 607Pismo Beach, CA 93448Phone: 805.541.5868Fax: 805.434.9380. The 2008 was a good, but not great, vintage and the scores it had achieved from the all-important wine critics reflected that. Although it eventually cooled after reaching. They should be fine 2017 is potentially a very good vintage. But it was a small market, complicated by the way that top Bordeaux is sold: Bordeauxs custom is to sell its wines two years before they are bottled. All of these factors combine to make Lafite wine one of the most expensive wines on the market. Learn More >, The Drop is an online magazine that connects people to wines theyll love. Billed by many as the finest wine ever produced by the estate, only six bottles have been made, and one was sold to an Asian buyer in Dubai in 2013 for an eye-watering 122,380. The price of other Bordeaux wines, Since then, the overall Chinese wine market has become globally significant. Mobile: +254 798 368 561. The price of other Bordeaux wines rose as well. The estate then became the joint property of his three sons: Alphonse, Gustave and Edmond Rothschild. A 200-year-old bottle of 1811 Chateau dYquem was sold by The Antique Wine Company in London, to a private collector who now displays the wine in his restaurant in Bali in a bullet-proof, temperature-controlled showcase. Please sign in or create a free account to . Unfinished and not yet bottled. The Pauillac appellation is where the other First Growths Chteau Latour and Chteau Mouton Rothschild are located. More importantly, Chinese consumption caused Bordeaux prices to rise so high, that it priced many of its traditional British and American fans out of the market. A bottle of Lafite can cost upwards of $500, making it one of the most expensive wines on the market. In Bordeaux, 2016 was a strange year. In 2001 he wrote: So much on show, so much left to show., Clive Coates MW writing a year later, thought the wine fresh, classy and intense, adding: It will get even better as it gets more decadent.. Some of the world's most famous wines. Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 Cheval Blanc 1982 Petrus 1982. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! The consumer price index jumped 6.8% from a year earlier, the fastest pace since 1982, as prices surged for staples such as food and gasoline, new and used cars, rent and physicians' services . Just as the 1990 Cheval Blanc is outrageously expensive, driven by Middle Eastern oil tycoons (NB: the current price is 7,032, higher than the '82), so is the price of Romane-Conti in Burgundy, France, at the very top of the pyramid, not only because of the tiny production of around 3,600-6,000 bottles (NB: Lafite's production is around 200,000 bottles) but also, it is said, because in the 1980s speculation by the Japanese when their economy took off. 06350591 | VAT No. On this, the first day of the auction, Ritchie had 2,000 bottles of Chteau Lafite Rothschild to put under the hammer. Great length and probably a few years off its peak. He knew the number eight is considered extremely lucky in Chinese culture, so hed arranged to have the Chinese symbol for the 8 in 2008 discreetly engraved in the lucky color red, just above the label. A look at the Bordeaux vintage that retailers are backing as the best in years. They're wrong. You are wondering about the question why is 1982 lafite so expensive but currently there is no answer, so let kienthuctudonghoa.com summarize and list the top articles with the question. The vines are planted in well-drained soil made up of fine, deep gravel, mixed with aeolian sand on a subsoil of tertiary limestone. Take a wild guess. Looking at the wine retail shelves raises one question: where's the Bordeaux? The coveted title of most expensive Champagne is constantly on the move, claimed by just two other vintages during the last decade. As a result, the appeal of this Pauillac wine has always been based on Lafite. The wineries of SLO Wine Country boast an average distance of just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in prevailing marine conditions that are among the most pronounced of any wine region in California. In der Nase feines florales Bukett, nach Herzkirschen, zart nach Orangenzesten, Lakritze und Brombeeren klingen an, floral nach Lilien, ein Hauch von Zedernholz, Steinpilzen und Schokolade. Our story, setting a new standard for fine wine investment. The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths (crus), with four first growths listed initially (Mouton Rothschild was added in 1973). It's not just an asset, it's an experience. Led by media professionals, The Drop is an entity in its own right, free of commercial interference of any kind. ! Flight 4 d'Yquem 1975. . Offered in The Treasury: Finest Wines from a Peerless Collection on 29 September 2022 at Christies in London. Across all vintages Lafite Rothschild is one of the most expensive wines in the world, with the average price per 750 ml bottle reaching $911.. What year is the most expensive Lafite? How Chteau Lafite Changed the World of Wine - Pix He enjoys participating in the final blending, though is willing to be overruled by his team of professionals. "There was a big round of applause, some cheers, and a little bit of shock and amazement," recalled Robert . Salin had not only helped open up the Chinese market for fine wines, he was now helping to open Western markets to prestige wines made in China. Billed by many as the finest wine ever produced by the estate, only six bottles have been made, and one was sold to an Asian buyer in Dubai in 2013 for an eye-watering 122,380. Because of this madness, it is said that the price of an empty bottle of Lafite in 1982 was as high as 4,000 yuan, and the price of the most expensive Lafite in 1982 was about 500,000 yuan per bottle. $ 3,548.92. The purity of fruit here really pushes through to the finish. The Chinese love affair with Lafite and the stature of the 1982 vintage has made this among the most sought-after if not the most sought-after wine in the country. It is considered by some to be the best wine to come out of Bordeaux. The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America have claimed teenagers are buying wine online. As the room filled up, Christoph Salin must have wondered if his bold strategy would pay off, because the stakes could not have been higher. [17] In 2019, the estate debuted its first vintage from its Domaine de Long Dai winery in Shandong. It . Krftiges Rubingranat, gute Farbtiefe, orangefarbene Reflexe, breiterer Wasserrand. GB 129 9514 84 | AWRS No. This Supreme Court Case Could Redefine Crime, YellowstoneBackers Wanted to Cash OutThen the Streaming Bubble Burst, How Countries Leading on Early Years of Child Care Get It Right, Female Execs Are Exhausted, Frustrated and Heading for the Exits, More Iranian Schoolgirls Sickened in Suspected Poisoning Wave, No Major Offer Expected on Childcare in UK Budget, Oil Investors Get $128 Billion Handout as Doubts Grow About Fossil Fuels, Climate Change Is Launching a MutantSeed Space Race, This Former Factory Is Now New Taipeis Edgiest Project, What Do You Want to See in a Covid Memorial? Why is Lafite so expensive? - KnowledgeBurrow.com A year after he took over the management in 1974, he hired Professor Emile Peynaud as consultant. Posted in: Christian Seely, Bordeauxs director of estates, oversees a portfolio that includes the estates of Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pibran, Petit-Village, and Suduiraut. Maybe youre looking for the perfect prosecco to bring to a surprise party. Chteau Lafite Rothschild is a French wine estate of Bordeaux wine, located in Pauillac in France, owned by members of the Rothschild family since the 19th century, and rated as a First Growth under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. The grapes would have been picked by hand, selected in the vineyard, and brought to the winery for destemming and fermentation in large wooden vats (stainless steel tanks were only installed in 1988). Lafite, derived from the historic language term fite, which means mound or hillock, is said to have been first used in 1234. It looks like a hill, and Lafite is located on the slope of a hill. Lafite 1982 Leads $820,000 Christie's Online Wine Auction That is certainly the case with the 1982 Lafite. drinkable). Will His AI Plans Be Any Different? Mixed formats support both near- and long-term drinking. In 2011, he moved forward with planting grapes in Chinas Shandong Province and soon after built a new winery named Long Dai. Users have rated this wine 4.5 out of 5 stars. Acidities were fairly low, but the best wines, such as Lafite, had sufficient tannic grip and structure to ensure a long, interesting life. Winemaking practices have changed little at Lafite. Price. The Most Expensive Bottle of Wine in the World (For Now) The Japanese specialty has burst free of its traditional market and is getting consumers very thirsty indeed. {"api":{"host":"https:\/\/pinot.decanter.com","authorization":"Bearer OWFmMzIzM2EwYWNjNWE2ZTlmOTI3YjBhMDRmYzIzYzI0NGEyMTQ3YmFjYWY4Y2EzOWI3MDg5MTU4NmQyMDNiNA","version":"2.0"},"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"6qv8OniKQO","rid":"RJXC8OC","offerId":"OFPHMJWYB8UK","offerTemplateId":"OFPHMJWYB8UK","wcTemplateId":"OTOW5EUWVZ4B"}}, {"location":"Keystone Header","subscribeText":"Subscribe Now","version":"2","menuWidgetTitle":"","myAccountLnk":"\/wine-reviews\/account","premiumLnk":"\/subscribe","menuLnks":{"2":{"text":"My Wines","href":"\/wine-reviews\/my-wines"}},"colors":{"text":"#ffffff","button":"#decc8f","link":"#ffffff"}}, Bordeaux agrees funding to pull up vineyards, Grapevines first domesticated 11,000 years ago, says study, Chile wildfires: damage to wine country as officials pledge help, September releases 2022: full score table, Subscribe to Decanter and get the latest wine legends every month. Winemakers have discovered that vines which yield a smaller amount of fruit make better wines because there is a greater concentration of flavor in the grapes. Yes, take me to the Asia edition Each spring after harvest, an event called En Primeur takes place, to which wine merchants and journalists are invited to taste the wine while its still in the barrel. It is undoubtedly one of the very best wines to come out of Bordeaux. There was a lot at stake. In 1994, Bordeaux was experiencing a sluggish sales period, so chteaux were raiding cellar reserves and selling previous vintages cheaply. It was going to be a tough day, and neither Ritchie or Salin, the CEO of DBR Lafite, the company behind Lafite, were certain the wines would attract anything like the prices they were hoping for. [2] In the 17th century, the property of Chteau Lafite was purchased by the Sgur family, including the 16th century manor house that still stands. An auction of some of the region's best wines will raise funds to help Ukrainian victims of Russian aggression. Chteau Lafite Rothschild has a rich and fascinating history. Theres no winemaker at Lafite, but the technical director then was Jean Crt (ex-Loville-Las-Cases). World Class Wine. Rather more closed on the nose. French wine production from the 2017 harvest will fall to historic lows due to damage from spring frosts, officials have estimated. In the years 1945 to 1961, the best time to drink Lafite Rothschild wines is from September to November. It may be early in the marathon that is Bordeaux En Primeurthe worlds biggest weeklong barrel-tasting eventbut its not too soon to say that 2016 is a great vintage overall. Could there be a changing of the guard among Bordeaux's top producers? Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. Led by media professionals, The Drop is an entity in its own right, free of commercial interference of any kind. Lafite lies at the northern end of Pauillac. Lafite was one of five wine-producing chateaus of Bordeaux originally awarded First Growth status in the 1855 Classification. And Salin had another plan in motion. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. And it was our thank you to China for helping us through the years.. Hassle-free and easy, our plans and fees are simple and transparent. Cult Wines is proudly invested in offsetting carbon emissions through dedicated projects around the world, championing sustainability, supporting ethical practices and actively contributing to the future of the wine industry with impactful initiatives. However, it should be difficult for you to buy a real bottle of 82 Lafite nowadays, as it is relatively rare and some wine merchants and collectors do not offer it easily, so we can only look at it from afar but not play with it. Not only that, but while Hong Kong had its share of wealthy collectors, wine drinking was not yet widespread in mainland China. A case of 1982 Chateau Lafite helped Christies International raise $819,715 in its first exclusively online wine auction yesterday. But selection for the grand vin was less stringent than it would become from 1985. (Some up north on the left bank are even mentioning 2015). This term has been used in the past with disastrous results. Rapper, entrepreneur and innovator LaRussell takes us on a journey from his childhood in the Bay Area making music, to his viral freestyles that lead to an appearance on The Breakfast Club, to his current mission of reimagining the music industry from his own garage. Covid has seen a lot of unspent wealth build up and wine is reaping the benefits. The only known bottle in the Imperial format was expected to sell for between US$150,000-$200,000, but smashed its estimates to sell for $304,375 (192,000). The wine has a long history dating back to the 18th century, and the name Lafite is synonymous with quality and luxury. It was rated second class after being classified as Deuxime Grand Cru in 1855. The estate is now known as Rubicon, owned by Francis Ford Coppola, who allegedly keeps an empty bottle of this vintage on top of his fridge. What Makes Lafite Wine So Expensive? - SloWine In fact, at the beginning, 82 Lafite was a line of a movie, and then gradually evolved into an expression bag. Why is everything so expensive? A quick look at what 1982-level Other full-bodied wines with robust structures will also age well, but we zeroed in on these nine as our top choices for the cellar treatment. First growth, or premier cru class, is the top tier of the Bordeaux classification, a list drawn up under the instruction of Napoleon III in 1855. takes place, to which wine merchants and journalists are invited to taste the wine while its still in the barrel. It has a fruity taste with a hint of oak. Estimate: 11,00014,000. Our company is the leading company of still equipment in China, with the strength of providing vodka, gin, run, whisky, brandy making machines. Is Chateau Lafite an expensive wine? In this week's episode, we hear how LaRussell first started gaining traction in his hometown of Vallejo, how he landed appearances on some of the premiere hip-hop radio shows, and why he's turned down offers from every major label in pursuit of building an independent empire. When we discussed the 08, I said, Why dont we do that? Salin recalls. Photo courtesy of DBR Lafite. For me, the magic of Bordeaux requires patience, the wines need time to evolve their complex secondary and tertiary characteristics of cedar, leather and tobacco. Bu 1 en 2022 avec J.S.Philippe, un monstre en devenir (99+) ! The 1982 vintage was a turning point, after which the quality of Lafite began to become solid. But what happened that night wasn't just a coup for Lafite. She is the youngest woman leading a Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux estate. The fight between Chteau Mouton Rothschild and Bordeaux was one of the most significant in modern history. And the owners of Lafite's range of basic Bordeaux generic wines called Lgende sell . Duhart-Milon, a separate estate in the Lafite portfolio, is located just west of Lafite. Annual production ranges between 15,000 to 20,000 cases, depending on the vintage. Wine drinkers should begin drinking wine about 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to get the best flavor. It looks like a hill, and Lafite is located on the slope of a hill. The tannins are well balanced and the finish is smooth. 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild - Wine-Searcher Estimate: 3,0004,000. It was not until 1983 that Charles Chevallier became Lafites deputy technical director; he later became technical manager of not only Lafite but the other properties - Rieussec, Duhart-Milon and Evangile that form part of the group. Chteau Lafite Rothschild is one of the most expensive wines in the world, with prices ranging from $911 per 750 ml bottle to $1,699 per 750 ml bottle. Occasionally exceptions are made, such as the 1961 vintage which was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. A bottle of 1869 Lafite had an estimated price of $8,000. The harvest began early, on 16 September. . Or youre an unabashed cork dork hunting for that Slovenian stunner you sipped on vacation. Simply put it, it's just so good! A single night in Hong Kong in 2010 proved a turning point in the history of wine. The price of other Bordeaux wines rose as well. The core is plummy and rich, with notes of bramble and earth, but then a creamy layer of blackcurrant adds to a fleshy mid-palate. Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. [20] Prices for Carruades de Lafite rose dramatically due in part to Chinese demand, with the prices of its 2005 and 2000 vintage fetching over 10,000 per case. During the ageing period, the wine would have been regularly racked and then fined before bottling. In 1982, Lafite became the representative of high-end wine in the eyes of most Chinese people because of the promotion of Hong Kong movies, and then became the representative of the entire wine community. The designations remain in force today, putting Lafite at the pinnacle of Bordeaux. No. Chteau Lafite Rothschild is a wine estate in the Pauillac region of the Mdoc, producing one of the most sought-after and expensive red wines in the world. The palate is wonderfully concentrated and sonorous; it seems to extend in a column of dense black fruit. The grapes are grown in the best vineyards in Bordeaux and are carefully selected to create the perfect blend. The growing season follows a similar pattern to 2016, 2018 and 2019, in that we had a wet spring followed by a dry, hot summer, topped off by a warm, dry harvest. 2 magnums per lot. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, 1787 . When it went for $233,972, it became the most expensive wine ever sold. This rare six-litre bottle of Bordeaux wine was sold to a private collector during a sale at Christies in Geneva. Wine Legend: Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 1982, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France Bottles produced: No record Composition: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc Yield: 40 hectolitres per hectare Alcohol level: 12.5% Release price: 170 francs per bottle (around 17), which rose on the export market to 225Fr (22.50) (2002) Similar colour, but has retained more depth at core. The recent story about the world's most Googled beer doesn't appear to add up. The wine producers were classified according to a chteaus reputation and trading price, which, at that time, was directly related to quality. Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 1941 17,250. There is no doubt that this is one of the best Bordeaux wines ever made. [3] Although vines almost certainly already existed on the site, around 1680, Jacques de Sgur planted the majority of the vineyard. 1982 Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac (high-mid shoulder fill, nicked label Regardless of whether the Lafite is in a bottle or a magnum, it should be included in your fine wine collection. There is a deep seam of black plum and liquorice with some nuances of minerals and earth, but this is deep, dense and savoury. After peaking in 2011, however, the price of some vintages halved in two years. It was predicted to earn about $666 a bottle, assuming there were buyers. Some estates overcropped as the yield was generous, but dilution was rare. Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 2005. This wine is made from a blend of 87 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 13 percent Merlot, according to the Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 2010 label. Discover our range of fine wines from around the world. To recap what we all know to have been a great season, 1982 saw a dry and mild spring, allowing an excellent flowering followed by a dry and hot summer with regular small showers and fresher nights in August. Lafite in particular has maintained a youthful character, developing harmony as it ages. If this first auction day failed, it forecast doom for the chteaux offering their wines on subsequent days. Across all vintages Lafite Rothschild is one of the most expensive wines in the world, with the average price per 750 ml bottle reaching $911. When young, it is really difficult to understand despite being more . The first two bottles of the lucky 2008 vintage, with an estimated lot price of $6,000 to $8,000, sold for $34,316 each. There are two seriously beautiful vintages on our hands, and theyre both fantastic. Why is chateau lafite rothschild so expensive? Hotlines/WhatsApp. The problem was that the Chinese had never bought much at En Primeur, Salin recalled recently. He claims that the 10s brought a new energy to structure. Check with the merchant for stock availability. The 2011 in particular has immense aging potential. Nov 22, 2010. And it would be a public humiliation for one of the wine worlds premier chteaux. From an investment point of view, the price of a wine is also at its peak when it enters the world's top restaurants for people to enjoy. Stores and prices for '1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac' | tasting notes, market data, prices and stores in Singapore. I was so happy that day! Lafite was officially ranked first in the list of the 1855 Classification of the Bordeaux Grands Crus Classs prepared for the Universal Exhibition in Paris in the same year. [21], GBP closed at ~$1.48 on the day of the auction per, For the controversy, which is still unresolved, see, Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 22:59, "The Most Expensive Wine Ever Sold at Auction", "History | Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)", "CHATEAU LAFITE 1787 - The World's Most Expensive Wine", "Saskia de Rothschild On Building a Winemaking Empire - Maxim", "Worldwise: Vintner Saskia de Rothschild's Favorite Things", "A bottle of 1787 wine apparently bottled for Thomas", "Wine Lover's Nose For Fakery Leads To Famed Bottles", "Chteau Lafite cracks open its first Chinese vintage", "Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France: prices", "Lafite-Rothschild 2008 Falls to $8,800 Five-Month Low on Liv-Ex", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chteau_Lafite_Rothschild&oldid=1140398124, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 22:59. 6 bottles per lot. Well, youd hardly keep it under the stairs, would you? Robert Parker said the wine reveals considerable tannin as well as amazing, atypical power and concentration for Lafite, and rated it 100. Half of those cases went to China. So drinking a bottle of 1982 Lafite Rothschild meant you were enjoying the best wine made, and if you in turn gave a bottle as a gift . [19], Across all vintages Lafite Rothschild is one of the most expensive wines in the world, with the average price per 750 ml bottle reaching $1175. Lafite currently has 112 hectares under vine and is planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Then it indirectly helped to advertise Lafite '82. [6], Following the French Revolution, the period known as Reign of Terror led to the execution of Nicolas Pierre de Pichard on 30 June 1794, bringing an end to the Sgur family's ownership of the estate which became public property. In Bordeaux, as almost anywhere else in the world of fine wine, wines get more expensive as they get older, and that effect accelerates the older the wine becomes. The 1982 vintage is one of the best wines I have had the privilege to taste when it is on song, with impressive concentration of cassis fruit character with the classic cedar and cigar box aromatics, supremely well balanced and the finish went on and on a truly impressive wine! Christoph Salin. Privacy Policy, The Treasury: Finest Wines from a Peerless Collection. When we discussed the 08, I said, Why dont we do that? Salin recalls. Wine Investment, Tagged: This week's news roundup covers all the major themes romance, money and crime. Three bottles of Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 1869 sold for HK$1.8 million each. Manage Cookies Accept & Continue. Michael Broadbent rated it highly from the outset, and his subsequent notes remarked on its fragrance and slow evolution. Vintages at Chteau Mouton Rothschild are known for their distinct labels. To stimulate interest, Salin had pulled out all the stops. Serious collectors dont deal in small fry, but are their chequebooks up to the cash demands of the most expensive wines in the world? China and Bordeaux Wine, The Complete Story, Current Situation Today The history of Chteau Lafite Rothschild is rich and fascinating. A bottle of Lafite can cost upwards of $500, making it one of the most expensive wines on the market. Not only was the wine famous, it was also a First Growth chateaux. Its vines are around 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, whereas the final wine is between 80% and 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% and 20% Merlot, and up to 3% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Asia House [1], Situated in the wine-producing village of Pauillac in the Mdoc region to the north-west of Bordeaux, the estate was the property of Gombaud de Lafite in 1234. Although it eventually cooled after reaching about 80 million cases of wine in 2017, China had in a few short years asserted itself as a wine-buying nation equal to anywhere in Europe or the Americas. We reach the climax of our series on the world's most searched-for wines, but there's a surprising omission. Bordeaux and French wines in general had made a practice of catering to large wallets and fine palates around the world, always with an eye on the next market. Wine Legend: Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 1982 - Decanter Fourth, Lafite is one of the most prestigious wine producers in the world. Robert Parker gave this vintage a score of 100 points, and legend has it that he tasted this vintage 11 times and was satisfied with 100 points each time. Secondly, despite its previous reputation, Lafite was not very consistent into the last century, due to Phylloxerra, which swept across the continent, and the effects of the two world wars, and some of the good years were quite mediocre. Pauillac is a well-regarded a commune and appellation on Bordeaux's Mdoc peninsula. It was predicted to earn about $666 a bottle, assuming there were buyers. Let us guide you through the process behind investing in fine wine. 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac, France Avg Price (ex-tax) $ 4,076 / 750ml Red - Savory and Classic 4.5 from 43 User Ratings 95 / 100 from 13 Critic Reviews All 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 Prices Profile Reviews Vintages Analytics 194 Prices Compact view Acker Merrall & Condit Auction USA: (NY) New York It is important to note that the final blend is almost always close to 90% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sold in 2011 at a Christies sale in New York, this Petrus vintage was expected to sell for between US$50,000 and $90,000, but the hammer went down on a considerably higher sum of $144,000 (100,800), setting a record for the most expensive Petrus ever sold at auction. When Salin joined Lafite as its new director in 1985, he intended to use Lafites reputation to full advantage. Why is Lafite so expensive? The purity of fruit here really pushes through to the finish. Wine Lists. The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths (crus), with four first growths listed initially (Mouton Rothschild was added in 1973). And it was our thank you to China for helping us through the years., But what happened that night wasnt just a coup for Lafite.