The Rothschild family has been producing wine in Bordeaux since 1868. For six generations, they got to know this beautiful landscape and understand the unique traits of the vines from each appellation. Three decades ago, the family was inspired to create a new wine series, where each wine would be the epitome of the appellation it came from. Their motivation was simple: to ensure wine lovers everywhere could dive into Bordeaux and taste the originality of each appellation. And so, the Les Légendes range was born.
The production of Les Légendes wines is supervised by our oenologist, Diane Flamand. The new Les Légendes range has greatly benefited from Diane’s ambition to create long term partnerships with vineyard growers around each appellation. Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) has made excellence in wine-making practices the basis of its development. Diane elaborates wines following the same approach: passion, discipline, humility, excellence and harmony.
For over 150 years, our master winemakers have been crafting the finest Bordeaux wines. Generations of local knowledge have taught our grape growers the secret to creating the most outstanding Pauillac. The wines of Les Légendes Pauillac are partly sourced from our family vineyards, the notorious Chateau Lafite and Chateau Duhart-Milon. The local landscape is almost white in color, due to the light colored pebbles that cover the gravelly soil. It’s these different layers of soil that contribute to the complexity of the wine, giving Pauillac its signature, elegant characteristics.
TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES
Pauillac is located 25 miles north of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Gironde estuary. Pauillac enjoys exceptional climatic and geological conditions to make outstanding wines. Three of the five First Growth of the 1855 classification are from this famous appellation. Sitting on a beautiful gravelly hilltop, it provides the perfect ripening conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in voluptuous, well-structured wines.
The late frosts that ravaged Bordeaux’s vineyards and many other wine regions in France and Europe on April 27th and 28th had a major impact on the 2017 vintage. The harvest was the smallest recorded since 1991. Fortunately, the wines produced by the properties that were spared by the frost proved to be of excellent quality. The sunny September allowed the Cabernet Sauvignon to continue ripening, thereby favoring the Left Bank appellations. The 2017 Pauillac wines combine finesse and balance in a fresh, oceanic vintage.
WINEMAKING & AGEING
This wine is made using traditional Bordeaux methods, the grapes are destemmed and crushed before being placed in thermoregulated stainless steel vats for fermentation. Fermentation is conducted at 86°F and is followed by three weeks of maceration with regular pumping-over to ensure a gentle extraction of the tannins.
After malolactic fermentation, 60% of the wine is transferred into French oak barrels for a period of 12 months. These wines are aged in the barrels made by our own cooperage located nearby, that contribute to the style of the house and confer the wine its incomparable elegance.
TASTING NOTES
A fine expression of the power and elegance of this great Bordeaux appellation. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged for 12 months in oak barrels result in a complex and well-structured wine with toasty and spicy notes. A wine that will last and reveal its secrets over time.
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