| If you could take just one sip – figuratively speaking – of Picasso’s painting “Guernica”, what flavors and sensations would it awaken on your palate? Proportionately speaking, they would certainly be very similar to what one would experience when drinking a glass of Château Lafitte 1787, the most expensive wine in the world.
It is highly unlikely that the person lucky enough to own this work of art has actually tasted it. This would be tantamount to sacrilege. After all we are talking about priceless liquor, not only because of the quality and tradition of the vineyard that produced it, but also because of its unique historical heritage: it is believed to have been part of Thomas Jefferson’s personal wine collection, the third President of the United States and the main author of the Declaration of Independence.
To really understand the value of a bottle of Château Lafitte 1787 we have to examine its history, which begins in the vineyard where it was produced. It is known as Château Lafitte Rothschild and is to be found in the Medoc region of France. The property dates back to the 17th century, when it had already established itself as a great wine producing estate.
By the 18th century, wines produced here had already travelled beyond the borders of France and were not just distributed in London, but also sold at public auctions in the city, being mentioned in the London’s official newspaper the London Gazette, as “French Clarets.”
Starting in 1716 the Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur took on the task of perfecting techniques for producing and aging the wine, with the intention of establishing himself as an authority on the subject. One of his boldest strategies was to take the wine to the Court at Versailles, more specifically to the table King Louis XV. From this time on, Château Lafitte was known as “wine fit for the King.”
And it was in Versailles in the days leading up to the French Revolution, where Thomas Jefferson first learned about the existence of Château Lafitte. He was in France in the capacity of United States Ambassador and, being a wine lover, was curious to know what wine would be fit to serve to a king. Once he had tried the wine no other would do and he became a devotee of the vineyard and its signature product until the end of his life.
However, even though the prestige of the Château Lafitte Rothschild vineyard was firmly established in Europe and America from the beginnings of the 18th century, it was not until 1815 that it received its first formal recognition. This honor fell to Lawton, a wine merchant, who described it as “possessing the highest degree of elegance, finesse and energy of all wines of its type.” This official accolade by a recognized authority in the world of wine was complemented by another in 1855, during the Universal Exposition in Paris. During this event, it was recognized as the very best of all the premiers crus.
This recognition by the experts led to Château Lafitte wines being highly prized in the market. By 1868 its price had risen to 6,250 Francs per barrel, which is $5,860 in today’s currency. And we are talking about three centuries ago!.
Today bottles of this wine fetch equally astronomical prices. A bottle of Château Lafitte 1787 was sold in 1985, at an auction held by Christies, for the not inconsiderable sum of $156,450. Of course, some say that the price has more to do with the wine’s year or the historical association with Thomas Jefferson.
We say to these people of so little faith that recent vintages are also much valued: a bottle of Château Lafitte 1982 sold for $400 only 18-20 months after it was made – which is normal for wines of this type – can easily fetch $10,000 in 2008. As an alternative, you can also drink it and enjoy the unique sensation of testing a true work of art on your palate: the Guernica of the wine world.
www.lafite.com |
