CorkonomicsThe economics of wine production, collection, and vineyards
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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 1997

1997 was a mixed year in Bordeaux. Some estates did well and others struggled.

Save · All vintages of Château Lafite Rothschild · Compare

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

What to expect

Quality varied from estate to estate, so the name on the label matters more than usual.

26 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
Mixed
Last sold at auction for
$521a bottle · Christie's, Dec 2024
How hard to find
Getting scarce29 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 $521 and $625 each, across 4 sales since September 2023.

Every sale on record10 lots, each linked to the auction house
$500$525$550$575$600$6252024USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-09-12 · $571USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-09-12 · $573USD per 75 cl bottle · 2023-10-31 · $625USD per 75 cl bottle · 2024-12-19 · $521USD per bottle: lot price ÷ bottles in the lotSale date4 lots of 75 cl bottles sold in USD at Christie's · prices as published by each house
Sale dateHouse and saleFormatLot pricePer bottle
Mar 2026Christie'sFine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: Hong Kong Edition (sale 24459) · Hong Kong · lot 3692 × 75 cl≈$956≈$478
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 3212 × 75 cl$6,250$521
May 2024Christie'sThe Epic Cellar (sale 23190) · Hong Kong · lot 50081 × 500 cl≈$4,141≈$4,141
Nov 2023Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits, Featuring Champagne Lanson and 40th Jubilee Wines Direct from the Cellars of Domaine de Chevalier (sale 21941) · London · lot 1712 × 75 cl≈$6,614≈$551
Oct 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring Two Superlative Collections (sale 22105) · Los Angeles · lot 7712 × 75 cl$7,500$625
Sep 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring a Superb Collection from the Pacific Northwest (sale 22074) · Los Angeles · lot 21812 × 75 cl$6,875$573
Sep 2023Christie'sFine and Rare Wines Online: Featuring a Superb Collection from the Pacific Northwest (sale 22074) · Los Angeles · lot 2177 × 75 cl$4,000$571
Nov 2022Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21214) · Hong Kong · lot 601012 × 75 cl≈$7,168≈$597
Nov 2022Christie'sFinest and Rarest Wines & Spirits (sale 21214) · Hong Kong · lot 600912 × 75 cl≈$7,168≈$597
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 36312 × 75 cl≈$7,779≈$648
 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.

Filter and browse

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
Last reviewed: September 2026Report an error on this page