CorkonomicsThe economics of wine production, collection, and vineyards
The numbers
Vineyard land · Pauillac≈$2,798,250 a hectare▼ down 17% on 20232024Opening price · Château Lafite Rothschild 2025≈$376 a bottle▲ up 17% on the year beforeSold at auction · Romanée-Conti Grand Cru, DRC 2019$22,917 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Burgundy grand cru (Pinot Noir)$48–283US duty on wine from · Canada+50%since Aug 2026Everyday bottle in a US shop$13.77 a litre▼ down 1.3% in a yearSep 2026Vineyard land · Margaux≈$1,567,020 a hectare▼ down 7% on 20232024Opening price · Château Cheval Blanc 2025≈$376 a bottle▲ up 22% on the year beforeSold at auction · La Tâche Grand Cru, DRC 2018$5,417 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Champagne prestige cuvée$26–89US duty on wine from · Australia+12.5%since Jul 2026Vineyard land · Côte-Rôtie≈$1,511,055 a hectare▲ up 8% on 20232024Opening price · Château Mouton Rothschild 2025≈$336 a bottle▲ up 19% on the year beforeSold at auction · Richebourg Grand Cru, DRC 2012$3,542 a bottleSotheby's, Sep 2026Cost to make one bottle · Bordeaux classified growth (2nd–5th)$17–61US duty on wine from · New Zealand+12.5%since Jul 2026Vineyard land · Côte de Nuits grand cru≈$7,275,450 a hectare2019Opening price · Château Palmer 2025≈$268 a bottle▼ down 19% on the year beforeVineyard land · Pomerol≈$2,238,600 a hectare2023
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Château Lafite Rothschild 1996

1996 was an excellent year in Bordeaux, just a step below the very best.

Save · All vintages of Château Lafite Rothschild · Compare

Château Lafite Rothschild, Bordeaux
Jordi Muray · Adobe Stock · Adobe Stock Standard License

What to expect

Expect a ripe, well-balanced wine with a long life ahead of it.

6 of the 32 years we cover for this wine were rated higher.

A decanter and a glass of red wine on a white tablecloth in a panelled dining room
The year
Excellent
Last sold at auction for
$875a bottle · Christie's, Nov 2025
How hard to find
Getting scarce30 years old

Other vintages of this wine

One square for each year. The darker the square, the better the weather was for the grapes. Tap a year to read about it.

202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996
ExceptionalExcellentVery goodGoodMixedDifficult

What bottles sell for

At auction, standard bottles of this vintage have sold for between $729 and $1,667 each, across 31 sales since February 2022.

Every sale on record73 lots, each linked to the auction house
$500$750$1,000$1,250$1,500$1,750202320242025USD per 75 cl bottle · 2022-02-01 · $1,667USD per 75 cl bottle · 2022-03-29 · $990USD per 75 cl bottle · 2022-03-29 · $990USD per 75 cl bottle · 2022-03-29 · $990USD per 75 cl bottle · 2022-03-29 · $1,000USD per 75 cl bottle · 2022-06-15 · $938USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-02-14 · $990USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-19 · $990USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-19 · $990USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-04-19 · $1,062USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-09-12 · $885USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-09-12 · $885USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-09-12 · $1,000USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-10-31 · $1,042USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-12-11 · $792USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-12-11 · $795USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-12-11 · $833USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-12-11 · $833USD per 75 cl bottle · 2024-04-09 · $938USD per 75 cl bottle · 2024-12-18 · $729USD per 75 cl bottle · 2024-12-18 · $729USD per 75 cl bottle · 2024-12-18 · $729USD per 75 cl bottle · 2024-12-18 · $781USD per 75 cl bottle · 2024-12-19 · $781USD per 75 cl bottle · 2025-04-23 · $750USD per 75 cl bottle · 2025-04-23 · $781USD per 75 cl bottle · 2025-06-13 · $729USD per 75 cl bottle · 2025-06-13 · $781USD per 75 cl bottle · 2025-06-13 · $833USD per 75 cl bottle · 2025-09-18 · $812USD per 75 cl bottle · 2025-11-05 · $875USD per bottle: lot price ÷ bottles in the lotSale date31 lots of 75 cl bottles sold in USD at Christie's · prices as published by each house
Sale dateHouse and saleFormatLot pricePer bottle
Jul 2026Christie'sFine & Rare Wines: Featuring The Reserve Cellar and 50th Anniversary Wines Direct From Stag's Leap Wine Cellars (sale 24555) · Los Angeles · lot 10591 × 150 cl$3,000$3,000
Mar 2026Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 24459) · Hong Kong · lot 5491 × 150 cl≈$1,593≈$1,593
Mar 2026Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 24459) · Hong Kong · lot 3687 × 75 cl≈$6,053≈$865
Dec 2025Christie'sThe Historic Cellar of Jürgen Schwarz: Five Decades of Collecting, Day I (sale 23766) · New York · lot 51 × 600 cl$8,750$8,750
Dec 2025Christie'sThe Historic Cellar of Jürgen Schwarz: Five Decades of Collecting, Day I (sale 23766) · New York · lot 46 × 150 cl$10,625$1,771
Nov 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online Featuring The Sierra Cellar (sale 23961) · Los Angeles · lot 132 × 75 cl$1,750$875
Oct 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 23826) · Hong Kong · lot 329 × 75 cl≈$6,053≈$673
Sep 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: LA Edition (sale 23751) · Los Angeles · lot 112 × 75 cl$1,625$812
Jun 2025Christie'sThe Cellar of William I. Koch: The Great American Collector Day II (sale 24201) · New York · lot 28712 × 75 cl$9,375$781
Jun 2025Christie'sThe Cellar of William I. Koch: The Great American Collector Day II (sale 24201) · New York · lot 28612 × 75 cl$8,750$729
Jun 2025Christie'sThe Cellar of William I. Koch: The Great American Collector Day II (sale 24201) · New York · lot 28512 × 75 cl$10,000$833
Apr 2025Christie'sTimeless Excellence: The Pristine Wine Collection of Jörg G. Bucherer (sale 24158) · London · lot 1112 × 75 cl≈$10,749≈$896
Apr 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 23907) · Hong Kong · lot 2751 × 75 cl≈$796≈$796
Apr 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 23907) · Hong Kong · lot 712 × 75 cl≈$8,761≈$730
Apr 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 23907) · Hong Kong · lot 612 × 75 cl≈$8,761≈$730
Apr 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 23907) · Hong Kong · lot 512 × 75 cl≈$8,761≈$730
Apr 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring the Cellar of a Southwestern Collector and the Final Offering from the Collection of Ben Ichinose (sale 23749) · Los Angeles · lot 3012 × 75 cl$9,375$781
Apr 2025Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring the Cellar of a Southwestern Collector and the Final Offering from the Collection of Ben Ichinose (sale 23749) · Los Angeles · lot 293 × 75 cl$2,250$750
Dec 2024Christie'sFine and Rare Wines including Vintage Icons from a West Coast Cellar and Historic Port from the Cellars of Raby Castle (sale 23100) · Los Angeles · lot 3112 × 75 cl$9,375$781
Dec 2024Christie'sPristine Bordeaux Classics: The Directors Collection (sale 24053) · Los Angeles · lot 1212 × 75 cl$8,750$729
Dec 2024Christie'sPristine Bordeaux Classics: The Directors Collection (sale 24053) · Los Angeles · lot 1112 × 75 cl$9,375$781
Dec 2024Christie'sPristine Bordeaux Classics: The Directors Collection (sale 24053) · Los Angeles · lot 106 × 75 cl$4,375$729
Dec 2024Christie'sPristine Bordeaux Classics: The Directors Collection (sale 24053) · Los Angeles · lot 96 × 75 cl$4,375$729
Jun 2024Christie'sA Legacy Preserved: The Last Treasures of The Avery Collection (sale 23060) · London · lot 686 × 75 cl≈$5,292≈$882
May 2024Christie'sThe Epic Cellar (sale 23190) · Hong Kong · lot 50071 × 600 cl≈$7,964≈$7,964
May 2024Christie'sThe Epic Cellar (sale 23190) · Hong Kong · lot 50061 × 500 cl≈$6,053≈$6,053
Apr 2024Christie'sLe Gavroche Part II: The Wine Cellar (sale 22983) · London · lot 2798 × 75 cl≈$7,441≈$930
Apr 2024Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring Exceptional Madeira Collections (sale 23087) · Los Angeles · lot 4312 × 75 cl$11,250$938
Dec 2023Christie'sFine Wine from the Cellar of Quincy Jones and A Diplomat's Collection of Rarities (sale 22106) · Los Angeles · lot 3812 × 75 cl$10,000$833
Dec 2023Christie'sFine Wine from the Cellar of Quincy Jones and A Diplomat's Collection of Rarities (sale 22106) · Los Angeles · lot 3711 × 75 cl$8,750$795
Dec 2023Christie'sFine Wine from the Cellar of Quincy Jones and A Diplomat's Collection of Rarities (sale 22106) · Los Angeles · lot 366 × 75 cl$4,750$792
Dec 2023Christie'sFine Wine from the Cellar of Quincy Jones and A Diplomat's Collection of Rarities (sale 22106) · Los Angeles · lot 356 × 75 cl$5,000$833
Nov 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: Festive Edition (sale 22117) · Hong Kong · lot 5716 × 150 cl≈$9,557≈$1,593
Oct 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring Two Superlative Collections (sale 22105) · Los Angeles · lot 7612 × 75 cl$12,500$1,042
Oct 2023Christie'sAn All-Encompassing Cellar: Online (sale 22115) · Hong Kong · lot 93 × 75 cl≈$2,708≈$903
Sep 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 22121) · Hong Kong · lot 2332 × 150 cl≈$3,823≈$1,911
Sep 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 22121) · Hong Kong · lot 2304 × 75 cl≈$3,186≈$796
Sep 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring a Superb Collection from the Pacific Northwest (sale 22074) · Los Angeles · lot 21612 × 75 cl$10,625$885
Sep 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring a Superb Collection from the Pacific Northwest (sale 22074) · Los Angeles · lot 21512 × 75 cl$10,625$885
Sep 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring a Superb Collection from the Pacific Northwest (sale 22074) · Los Angeles · lot 2143 × 75 cl$3,000$1,000
Jun 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21936) · London · lot 12 × 150 cl≈$3,307≈$1,654
Apr 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21934) · London · lot 1412 × 75 cl≈$12,402≈$1,034
Apr 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring the Ruan Collection (sale 22062) · Los Angeles · lot 1212 × 75 cl$11,875$990
Apr 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring the Ruan Collection (sale 22062) · Los Angeles · lot 1112 × 75 cl$11,875$990
Apr 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring the Ruan Collection (sale 22062) · Los Angeles · lot 102 × 75 cl$2,125$1,062
Mar 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 22112) · Hong Kong · lot 20612 × 75 cl≈$11,150≈$929
Feb 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring the Renowned Cellar of an American Collector (sale 21810) · Los Angeles · lot 7312 × 75 cl$11,875$990
Dec 2022Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: LA Edition (sale 20971) · Los Angeles · lot 151 × 150 cl$2,000$2,000
Dec 2022Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits: Featuring Exceptional Anniversary Offerings from Ridge Vineyards and Champagne Philipponnat (sale 21096) · London · lot 41712 × 75 cl≈$12,402≈$1,034
Nov 2022Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21214) · Hong Kong · lot 600812 × 75 cl≈$10,353≈$863
Nov 2022Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21214) · Hong Kong · lot 600712 × 75 cl≈$11,150≈$929
Nov 2022Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21214) · Hong Kong · lot 600612 × 75 cl≈$11,150≈$929
Sep 2022Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 21209) · Hong Kong · lot 83 × 75 cl≈$2,708≈$903
Sep 2022Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 21209) · Hong Kong · lot 76 × 75 cl≈$6,053≈$1,009
Sep 2022Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 21209) · Hong Kong · lot 612 × 75 cl≈$11,150≈$929
Jun 2022Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring the Exceptional Collection of Danny and Donna Arnold (sale 20968) · Los Angeles · lot 94 × 75 cl$3,750$938
Jun 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR PART II: Online (sale 21208) · Hong Kong · lot 21 × 75 cl≈$1,513≈$1,513
Jun 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR PART II: Online (sale 21208) · Hong Kong · lot 112 × 75 cl≈$14,336≈$1,195
May 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR (sale 21212) · Hong Kong · lot 50099 × 75 cl≈$8,761≈$973
May 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR (sale 21212) · Hong Kong · lot 500812 × 75 cl≈$13,539≈$1,128
May 2022Christie'sTHE VISIONARY'S SPECTACULAR CELLAR (sale 21212) · Hong Kong · lot 500712 × 75 cl≈$13,539≈$1,128
Apr 2022Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines (sale 21093) · London · lot 11712 × 75 cl≈$13,229≈$1,102
Mar 2022Christie'sFinest & Rarest Wines Including a Collaboration with Grapes for Humanity Global Charity Foundation (sale 20967) · Los Angeles · lot 6112 × 75 cl$11,875$990
Mar 2022Christie'sFinest & Rarest Wines Including a Collaboration with Grapes for Humanity Global Charity Foundation (sale 20967) · Los Angeles · lot 6012 × 75 cl$11,875$990
Mar 2022Christie'sFinest & Rarest Wines Including a Collaboration with Grapes for Humanity Global Charity Foundation (sale 20967) · Los Angeles · lot 5912 × 75 cl$11,875$990
Mar 2022Christie'sFinest & Rarest Wines Including a Collaboration with Grapes for Humanity Global Charity Foundation (sale 20967) · Los Angeles · lot 585 × 75 cl$5,000$1,000
Feb 2022Christie'sFine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections (sale 21177) · Los Angeles · lot 812 × 75 cl$20,000$1,667
Dec 2021Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines Online (sale 21178) · Hong Kong · lot 2703 × 75 cl≈$3,026≈$1,009
Dec 2021Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines Online (sale 21178) · Hong Kong · lot 2692 × 75 cl≈$1,752≈$876
Nov 2021Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines (sale 19867) · Hong Kong · lot 60172 × 75 cl≈$2,549≈$1,274
Jun 2021Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines and Spirits Featuring Two Superb Cellars, and Highlights from the Collection of The Earl of Snowdon (sale 20062) · London · lot 212 × 75 cl≈$12,153≈$1,013
Jun 2021Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines and Spirits Featuring Two Superb Cellars, and Highlights from the Collection of The Earl of Snowdon (sale 20062) · London · lot 112 × 75 cl≈$12,153≈$1,013
Mar 2021Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines and Spirits Featuring A Superlative Private Collection (sale 19854) · Hong Kong · lot 56 × 75 cl≈$6,690≈$1,115
 Prices are in the currency of each sale. Christie’s and Sotheby’s include the buyer’s fee; Hart Davis Hart shows the price before it.

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What does this wine cost to make?Our estimate: $28–$95 a bottle

We estimate it costs about $28 to $95 to make one bottle of a wine like this. The price in the shop is far higher because the land is scarce, the name is famous, and many hands take a share on the way to you.

Low estimateImputed land cost: $11.34Vineyard operations: $3.31Oak barrels: $0.56Winemaking labour and cellar work: $2.50Cellar aging: $1.20Bottle, closure, label, case and bottling: $4.90Winery overhead: $3.00Financing over the aging period: $1.61$28 per bottleHigh estimateImputed land cost: $43.88Vineyard operations: $10.24Oak barrels: $1.61Winemaking labour and cellar work: $5.00Cellar aging: $2.96Bottle, closure, label, case and bottling: $13.40Winery overhead: $7.00Financing over the aging period: $10.89$95 per bottleImputed land costVineyard operationsOak barrelsWinemaking labour and cellar workCellar agingBottle, closure, label, case and bottlingWinery overheadFinancing over the aging periodUS$ per 75 cl bottle at the winery, before any margin, tax or transport · Corkonomics cost model

See the full breakdown

Sources

  1. Château Lafite Rothschild — producer profile, The Wine Cellar Insider, 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2026. typical annual production
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