Local Event Premier Host

WW&S 20th Anniversary Series: Chateau Lafite Rothschild - A Thousand Season

Cost: TBD

 Twenty years ago, Waterford Wine & Spirits opened its doors with a simple, ambitious belief: that Wisconsin deserved access to the world’s great wines, not as distant trophies but as living, shareable experiences. Two decades later, that belief has grown into a community built around curiosity, trust and the joy of discovery.

To mark our 20th anniversary, we’re doing what we love most: welcoming some of the world’s most revered wineries and putting them where they belong — at the tasting table with you.

Among Bordeaux estates, few names carry the weight of Château Lafite Rothschild. For more than two centuries, Lafite has been a reference point for elegance in Pauillac, holding to a style defined by finesse, line and longevity even as tastes and markets have shifted around it. This seminar is a focused look at that legacy and at how it continues to evolve.

 Lafite’s identity is the product of long continuity: generations of observation and decision-making on a single plateau of deep, ancient gravel. Over hundreds of vintages — harvest after harvest, season after season — the estate has refined its approach without chasing fashion. The aim has never been raw power for its own sake, but Cabernet Sauvignon with clarity, tension and detail.

That philosophy is rooted in the plateau’s famous gravels. These well-drained soils underpin one of the world’s most recognizable expressions of Cabernet. Here, concentration comes with lift, and structure is balanced by freshness. The team in the vineyards and cellar works within that framework, adjusting to each year while preserving the core character that has made Lafite so distinctive.

In the glass, Lafite typically shows a contrast of precision and restraint. In youth, the wines tend to be finely drawn and calm: cassis, blackcurrant leaf, graphite, cedar and cool mineral notes set into a frame of firm yet refined tannins and lively acidity. With age, they evolve toward savory complexity — tobacco, forest floor, truffle, dried herbs and leather — carried on a texture that feels complete without heaviness. The best vintages gain depth over time rather than simply adding weight.

This seminar will be led by Olivier Gailly, Sales Director for Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), whose role places him at the intersection of the family’s historic estates and their global presence. With deep institutional knowledge of the Domaines and long-standing experience presenting these wines on the world stage, Olivier offers a rare, ground-level perspective on how Lafite’s philosophy translates across estates, appellations, and vintages. Under his guidance, the tasting will move beyond prestige to focus on intent—how decisions in vineyard selection, élevage, and blending shape wines that are unified not by style, but by precision and restraint.

Unyielding yet delicate, subtle yet long-lived, Lafite has held its place on the short list of the world’s great wines for generations. This tasting is a chance to see why: multiple vintages of Lafite poured alongside its key sister properties, all in one room, with a member of the family to put them in context.

Wines to Be Tasted:

Barons de Rothschild Brut Champagne

R de Rieussec 2023

Château Lafite Rothschild Grand Vin 1995

Château Lafite Rothschild Grand Vin 2009

Château Lafite Rothschild Grand Vin 2014

Château Lafite Rothschild Grand Vin 2015

Carruades de Lafite 2018

Château Duhart-Milon 2022

Château L’Évangile 2016 

Château L’Évangile 2011

Château Rieussec Sauternes 2019

All prices listed reflect regular retail. Significant discounts will be offered on all wines tasted. Due to the highly allocated nature of some selections, wines may change without notice.

Tags

• event
• Things to do in Milwaukee, WI
• Wisconsin Wine & Food Events
• Milwaukee Wine & Food Events