why is 1982 lafite so expensive
Nov 22, 2010. Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. In 2011, he moved forward with planting grapes in Chinas Shandong Province and soon after built a new winery named Long Dai. I have been fortunate to taste Lafite on many occasions. To stimulate interest, Salin had pulled out all the stops. 12 bottles per lot. The palate is wonderfully concentrated and sonorous; it seems to extend in a column of dense black fruit. articles a month for anyone to read, even non-subscribers! Photo courtesy of DBR Lafite. And it would be a public humiliation for one of the wine worlds premier chteaux. Chateau Lafite Rothschild is known for its best drinking and should reach its peak maturity between the ages of 15 and 60. The wine producers were classified according to a chteau's reputation and trading price, which, at that time, was directly related to quality. The designations remain in force today, putting Lafite at the pinnacle of Bordeaux. Am Gaumen komplex, dabei saftig und elegant, extraktse Frucht, prsente Tannine, etwas schwarzer Tee, leicht adstringent, hat den robusten Kern aller guten 82er, hat Tiefgang, dunkle Schokolade, aber auch Nuancen von roter Frucht im Abgang, sehr gute Lnge, ausgezeichnetes weiteres Reifepotenzial. Duhart-Milon, a separate estate in the Lafite portfolio, is located just west of Lafite. On this, the first day of the auction, Ritchie had 2,000 bottles of. Good luck getting hold of a bottle, though, the vintage is available in maddeningly small quantities. A bottle of 1869 Lafite had an estimated price of $8,000. To give you the best search experience, we use cookies for remembering your search filters, personalizing content, and analyzing how the website is used. The recent story about the world's most Googled beer doesn't appear to add up. Returns are calculated in GBP and results may vary depending on exchange rates. Years of use usually result in bottles costing several hundred dollars, and prices rise as they become scarcer. Chateau Lafite tastes like a fine wine should taste. When the 1855 classification was made, Lafite was listed first among the four first growths earning the reputation 'the first among the firsts'. Such resonance that Carruades de Lafite, the Bordeaux first growth's second wine and often a thin little thing, can command a higher price than super-second Ch Cos d'Estournel. Or youre an unabashed cork dork hunting for that Slovenian stunner you sipped on vacation. She is the youngest woman leading a Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux estate. Let us guide you through the process behind investing in fine wine. 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. Estimate: 11,00014,000. Drinks Business Asia edition? The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America have claimed teenagers are buying wine online. It was a vintage that many experts at the time were down on: a vintage that was seen as fruity, seductive, over-ripe and youthful before it was even bottled, but without enough tannins to support it and make it difficult for it to develop in the bottle, lacking the makings of a great wine. Rothschild, however, died just three months after purchasing Lafite. The Clockwork Building, 45 Beavor Lane, London W6 9AR, Reg Company No. The price of other Bordeaux wines rose as well. They're wrong. The estate then became the joint property of his three sons: Alphonse, Gustave and Edmond Rothschild. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. There was also plenty of the 2008 vintage on offer, but its fate was less certain. Christian Seely, Bordeauxs director of estates, oversees a portfolio that includes the estates of Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pibran, Petit-Village, and Suduiraut. The past few years have seen big price hikes for fine wine, but market patience might be wearing thin. This particular bottle had the initial Th.J etched into it the markings of enthusiastic oenophile Thomas Jefferson. The price of other Bordeaux wines, Since then, the overall Chinese wine market has become globally significant. Led by media professionals, The Drop is an entity in its own right, free of commercial interference of any kind. Christoph Salin. There are two seriously beautiful vintages on our hands, and theyre both fantastic. 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? There are a few factors that contribute to the high cost of Lafite wine. If youre looking for a special bottle of wine to splurge on, Lafite is a great option. I was so happy that day! The 1982 Chteau Lafite-Rothschild, from magnum, is a bit rough around the edges, but still striking in its beauty. There was also plenty of the 2008 vintage on offer, but its fate was less certain. Asia House Back in 2010 an Asian buyer made wine history when they purchased three bottles of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild for US$232,692 (163,000) per bottle. This vintage could well go down in history as the most expensive bottle of wine never sold. The vines are planted in well-drained soil made up of fine, deep gravel, mixed with aeolian sand on a subsoil of tertiary limestone. I was blessed to have drunk quite a number of Petrus vintages. Amazon Pauses Construction on Second Headquarters in Virginia as It Cuts Jobs, Stock Traders Are Ignoring Blaring Bond Alarms, iPhone Maker Plans $700 Million India Plant in Shift From China, Russia Is Getting Around Sanctions to Secure Supply of Key Chips for War. Once again, the 1982 Lafite is at its peak (i.e. Talk about opening with a bang! The bottle of 1869 with an estimated price of $8,000? It was predicted to earn about $666 a bottle, assuming there were buyers. Grapes must be planted in well-drained soil, which is rich in fine, deep gravel and aeolian sand. Discover what else your investment offers. The fight between Chteau Mouton Rothschild and Bordeaux was one of the most significant in modern history. There is no doubt that this is one of the best Bordeaux wines ever made. In contrast, due to Chinas average annual salary of just over $11,000, paying such a high price for a bottle of wine may be out of reach for some consumers. Guinea Sets Two-Week Deadline for Alumina Plants Projects, RAF Jets Escort Plane in Distress to Stansted Airport, Bank of Canada Risks Falling Too Far Behind Fed, Scotia Says, Feds Daly Says More Rate Hikes Likely Needed to Cool Inflation, Colombia Prices Rise Less than Forecast to a Fresh 24-Year High, Amazon Is Closing Its Cashierless Stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle, Rivian Tells Staff EV Output May Be 24% More Than Forecast, Meta Cuts the Price of Its Quest Headset Up to 33% After Disappointing Demand, In Blacklisting Inspur, US Targets Partner Used by Intel and IBM, John Malone andCharter Directors Agree to $87.5 Million Settlement, Congo President Tells Macron Conflict in East May Delay Election, Anti-ESG Crusader Wants to Take Trumps Agenda to Next Level, Harrods Shrugs Off Recession Fears as Rich Get Richer, FT Says, Wealthy NYC Family Feuds Over $258 Million Madison Avenue Sale, Porsche, Ferrari E-Fuel Push at Heart of EU Engine Debate, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61. A case of 1982 Chateau Lafite helped Christie's International raise $819,715 in its first exclusively online wine auction yesterday. Since then, it has been a consistent producer of one of the world's most expensive red wines. (2002) Similar colour, but has retained more depth at core. ! From Barolo to Bordeaux, these wines are steeped in tradition. I told them, Sprite tastes better without Lafite, and Lafite tastes better without Sprite. Nevertheless, the 1982 sold well among government dignitaries and oligarchs looking for the perfect gift, even if they never really intended to drink it. 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. Composition: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, Release price: 170 francs per bottle (around 17), which rose on the export market to 225Fr (22.50), Price today: between 47,000 and 54,000 per case (3,915 to 4,500 a bottle) and rising. Three bottles of Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 1869 sold for HK$1.8 million each. Second, the grapes used to make Lafite wine are of the highest quality. When the hammer came down on the extraordinary sale of a bottle of 1869 Chteau Lafite, history was made. 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. Why is Petrus so expensive apart from the common logic of supply and demand? With a surprisingly clever search engine alongside bottle reviews and articles from trusted voices in wine, youre just a click and a clink away from your new favorite bottle. The problem was that the Chinese had never bought much at En Primeur, Salin recalled recently. Not only that, but while Hong Kong had its share of wealthy collectors, wine drinking was not yet widespread in mainland China. It looks like a hill, and Lafite is located on the slope of a hill. It might say Bordeaux in the name, but this isn't some celebration of French wine dominance. The debonair Baron Eric is serious about his wines. The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths (crus), with four first growths listed initially (Mouton Rothschild was added in 1973). Our wine director takes a more detailed look at his picks from the most recent Bordeaux vintage, appellation by appellation. Looking at the wine retail shelves raises one question: where's the Bordeaux? It has a fruity taste with a hint of oak. Although Lafite was still somewhat unknown in China, it had been a household word around the world for centuries, dating its history back until at least the 1200s. When Salin joined Lafite as its new director in 1985, he intended to use Lafites reputation to full advantage. Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. Please sign in or create a free account to . GB 129 9514 84 | AWRS No. Merlot has become more prominent in recent vintages, as has a more traditional approach by Salin and Chevalier. An auction of some of the region's best wines will raise funds to help Ukrainian victims of Russian aggression. Theres no winemaker at Lafite, but the technical director then was Jean Crt (ex-Loville-Las-Cases). The 1982 vintage was a turning point, after which the quality of Lafite began to become solid. So, what makes Lafite wine so expensive? The wines have a vibrant acidity and a firm tannic structure which enables the wines to age gracefully over many decades in the successful vintages. The grapes are grown in the best vineyards in Bordeaux and are carefully selected to create the perfect blend. Over time, the tannins loose a lot of the fight in them as the remain in an anaerobic environment, and mellow. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, 1787 . This is not a bad thing, but it is slightly different. This beverage is very sleek, full of black tea, currant, and crushed fig fruit, as well as subtle smoke, incense, and tar. Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 1986. Wine investment insights delivered straight into your inbox weekly. Offered in The Treasury: Finest Wines from a Peerless Collection on 29 September 2022 at Christies in London. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety, but in some vintages Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot play a part in the blend. Sold in 2004, this is regarded as one of the most expensive American wines ever sold. 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. 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. 2 magnums per lot. Rather more closed on the nose. Chteau Only twelve copies of this doll were made by Mattel. 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 wine has a long history dating back to the 18th century, and the name Lafite is synonymous with quality and luxury. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}451330N 04623W / 45.22500N 0.77306W / 45.22500; -0.77306. Lafite "is such a generic brand in China that it has widespread appeal as a name and as a status symbol," Mr. Boyce said. Pauillac is a well-regardeda commune and appellation on Bordeaux's Mdoc peninsula. Bloomberg Best features the best stories of the day from Bloomberg Radio, Bloomberg Television, and 120 countries around the world. First, the wine is produced in very limited quantities. takes place, to which wine merchants and journalists are invited to taste the wine while its still in the barrel. Wine has a proven track record of returns and resilience in an unstable market. Estimated to reach $8,000, it sold for $233,972, making it the most expensive 750ml bottle of wine on the planet. 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 . The Chardonnay at Chteau Lafite Rothschild is always more Merlot than the grand vin. It became the most expensive wine ever sold when the hammer went down at the final price of $233,972. It is considered by some to be the best wine to come out of Bordeaux. All of these factors combine to make Lafite wine one of the most expensive wines on the market. A bottle of Lafite can cost upwards of $500, making it one of the most expensive wines on the market. Products range from still equipment, brew equipment craft home microbrewery beer brewery brewing beer equipment fermenter beer pilot brewing system, Micro Brewery equipment Two Vessels Brewhouse, 50L/100L Mini Alcohol Distiller Column Distillation Machine, Isobaric craft beer conical fermentation tank, jacket craft beer conical fermenter equipment, Variable Red Fruit Wine Fermentation Tank capacity Stainless Steel wine tank, Stainless steel wine fermenter and storage tank for winery and beverage factory, Distillery machine brewing vodka gin Rum Whisky Brandy liquor, 1000l copper still brandy distilling equipment. In addition to the first growth, around a third of the wine is released as a second wine under the label Carruades de Lafite. Given that wine is a beverage, of course, one bottle is rarely consumed and eventually becomes a scarce item, perhaps hidden away in the hands of a collector and labelled as a non-sale item. Will His AI Plans Be Any Different? Discover how your secure fine wine investment is stored. "There was a big round of applause, some cheers, and a little bit of shock and amazement," recalled Robert . [5] Towards the end of the 18th century, Lafite's reputation was assured and even Thomas Jefferson visited the estate and became a lifelong customer. No. In terms of red Bordeaux, the wines of Pauillac are classic versions characterised with intense blackcurrant flavours and aromas that develop into pencil lead, cedar and cigar box with age. [2] In 1797 the vineyards were sold to a group of Dutch merchants.[5]. Join one of our online webinars to hear from experts on the market. Nevertheless, Chateau Lafite is still one of the most popular wines in the world, and its high price tag is reflective of its quality and prestige. Great length and probably a few years off its peak. Because saliva builds up in the mouth all day, it can alter the taste of wine. The bottles had been shipped directly from Lafites own cellars; among them, a bottle of 1869 Lafite, its price estimated at $8,000. Once again, the 1982 Lafite is at its peak (i.e. Chteau Lafite Rothschild is undoubtedly one of the worlds most prestigious and collectable wines. Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 2000. Because of the magic of Bordeaux, it takes a while to develop the complex secondary and tertiary characteristics of cedar, leather, and tobacco. 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. Every year, a different artist is commissioned by the winery. 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. The chteaux take these reactions into account when they come up with the wines release price. Critic tasting note: "(2002) Similar colour, but has retained more depth at core. The vineyard is one of the largest in the Mdoc at 107 hectares, and produces around 35,000 cases annually, of which between 15,000 and 25,000 are first growth. In addition to being one of the first growth wines from Bordeaux, it is one of the most expensive. 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. Lafite currently has 112 hectares under vine and is planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Chteau Lafite in Bordeaux. Found to be the most expensive wine in the world on the market currently, Henri Jayers Richebourg Cru taking top spot has surprised oenophiles everywhere, with many assuming a Romanee-Conti would take poll position. It is considered by some to be the best wine to come out of Bordeaux. Trinken/lagern +40 Jahre. Deep in colour, it has a classic Pauillac nose with intense black fruit mixed with pencil shavings and black truffles. Yes, take me to the Asia edition Chateau Margaux creeps into the top 10 again with its limited edition 12-litre 2009 vintage. We reach the climax of our series on the world's most searched-for wines, but there's a surprising omission. Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. Offered in The Treasury: Finest Wines from a Peerless Collection on 29 September 2022 at Christies in London. 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. Critics have scored this wine 95 points. This lengthy aging process adds to the cost of the wine. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! The best Chateau Lafite Rothschild should be aged at least 15 years in a glass. 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. First, the wine is produced in very limited quantities. 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. They should be fine 2017 is potentially a very good vintage. [7][8], At the 5 December 1985 Christie's auction, a new record price of approximately US$156,000 was paid for a bottle of wine a 1787 Chteau Lafite which was thought to be owned by Thomas Jefferson. 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 in 2017, China had in a few short years asserted itself as a wine-buying nation equal to anywhere in Europe or the Americas. Little did he know that the "82 Bordeaux would be released to the public as being slow to ripen and full of potential. It looks like a hill, and Lafite is located on the slope of a hill. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. The most important thing for Chinese people is their face. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot. An original wood case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 was the top selling item at Zachys' New York Spring auction this week selling for $41,650. 2023 Union Press Ltd | Wigglesworth House, Fourth Floor, 69 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HH, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7803 2420 The Drop is an online magazine that connects people to wines theyll love. Price starts low and is sold to the highest bidder. 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. This week's news roundup covers all the major themes romance, money and crime. Theres a world of difference between carefully-preserved decades-old vintages and two-for-a-tenner bottles of plonk on sale in the supermarket, not least the price tags. Lafite only produces a few thousand cases of wine each year, which drives . The Anglocentric language of wine is increasingly exclusive to the wider wine world. Third, Lafite ages its wine for a longer period of time than most other producers. The first half of the 19th century saw Lafite in the hands of the Vanlerberghe family and the wine improved more, including the great vintages of 1795, 1798 and 1818. . The soil is deep gravel on perfectly drained, gently undulating slopes. Hotlines/WhatsApp. 03606414. Take a wild guess. On this, the first day of the auction, Ritchie had 2,000 bottles of Chteau Lafite Rothschild to put under the hammer. Case of 1982 Lafite tops auction at $42k 12 May 2014 By Lauren Eads An original wood case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 was the top selling item at Zachys' New York Spring auction this. At the time the sale set a record for the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction, clocking up a whopping $29,000 per glass! Lafite, derived from the historic language term fite, which means mound or hillock, is said to have been first used in 1234. It is undoubtedly one of the very best wines to come out of Bordeaux. Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. Baron Eric de Rothschild, the current manager, was already running Lafite in 1982. Why is lafite so expensive? The designations remain in force today, putting Lafite at the pinnacle of Bordeaux. The growing season was idyllic with both budburst and flowering occurring under perfect conditions. [18], In addition to the first growth, around a third of the wine is released as a second wine under the label Carruades de Lafite. The wine is without a doubt one of the best Bordeaux wines to come out. The unusually warm growing season resulted in grapes of perfect ripeness and enormous concentration and richness. In 1989, the bottle collided with a tray at a wine dinner in New York, and win merchant William Sokolin scooped $225,000 (157,200) from the insurance (although he had originally sought out a massive half a million). . 2020 has ended up being a really good but variable year with wines of outstanding potential for many Bordeaux estates. But selection for the grand vin was less stringent than it would become from 1985. 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. There are a few factors that contribute to the high cost of Lafite wine. The 1982, considered one of the best vintages of last century . And it was our thank you to China for helping us through the years.. Michael Broadbent rated it highly from the outset, and his subsequent notes remarked on its fragrance and slow evolution. In the years 1945 to 1961, the best time to drink Lafite Rothschild wines is from September to November. More importantly, it was one of only four Bordeaux wineries given the top First Growth rating when the regions wine merchants drew up a. . The wine is typically aged for at least 18 months, and sometimes up to 24 months, before it is released. Price. The 1982, considered one of the best vintages of last century, was the most expensive lot fetching $42,350, including a 21 percent commission known as buyers premium. The wines are then released to wholesalers, who get it at a lower price than everybody else. Copyright 2023 Cult Wines Ltd. All Rights Reserved. A single night in Hong Kong in 2010 proved a turning point in the history of wine. It was predicted to earn about $666 a bottle, assuming there were buyers. After peaking in 2011, however, the price of some vintages halved in two years. Chteau Lafite-Rothschild 2005. Bordeaux are known for their age-ability. Retail Wines In France, Lafite became known as the King's wine, after being introduced to the Court at Versailles by Marchal Richelieu. - New York - USA, Messe Dusseldorf This term has been used in the past with disastrous results. 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! Limited availability. Wine-Searcher's historical data and benchmark analysis provides trustworthy and valuable insights into likely market trends. Aile dArgent, at less than $100 per bottle, is more affordable, while Le Petite Mouton costs around $100. The 2008 was a good, but not great, vintage and the scores it had achieved from the all-important wine critics reflected that. When Salin joined Lafite as its new director in 1985, he intended to use Lafites reputation to full advantage. Not only was the wine famous, it was also a First Growth chateaux. Since then, the overall Chinese wine market has become globally significant. The mystique extends beyond the wine in Beijing, there is a La Fite. Within the five rarefied first growths, Lafite is perhaps the wine with the best reputation for quality and longevity, commanding correspondingly high prices. These nuances continue to evolve and change through the wines long life and the type of bottle format will also influence this evolution, as the general rule is that the larger the format the slower the evolution due to less oxygen compared to the volume of wine, which means those lucky enough to have magnums, double-magnums, jeroboams or imperials of Lafite can enjoy their wines over a longer drinking window period. 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. Succeeding his uncle lie de Rothschild, Lafite has been under the direction of ric de Rothschild from 1974 to 2018, when he was succeeded by his daughter, Saskia de Rothschild. Finally, the legend of Lafite '82 is shared by those in the community: first a group of Hong Kong tycoons started drinking it, when it was considered a status symbol to drink Lafite, and choosing an '82 Lafite was a reflection of taste; then it became popular among a group of Wenzhou businessmen living in Europe to drink a wine called Lafite, and now it is the businessmen from Zhejiang, in addition to Wenzhou, who are starting to speculate on Lafite '82. to put under the hammer. Mixed formats support both near- and long-term drinking. He claims that the 10s brought a new energy to structure. These wines, on the other hand, have a vibrant acidity and a firm tannic structure, allowing them to age gracefully. What is the Difference Between Wine and Cocktails? Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 1941 17,250. The 1982 Lafite-Rothschild is a wine I have drunk several times, though maybe this is the first time in magnum. [4], In the early 18th century, Nicolas-Alexandre, marquis de Sgur refined the wine-making techniques of the estate, and introduced his wines to the upper echelons of European society. Mr. Liu put the price of a bottle of 1982 Lafite at about 60,000 yuan or $9,500 (taxes tend to make wine more expensive in China than in other markets) -- and he clearly expected Maotai to. In China the name Lafite has the most extraordinary and unexpected resonance.