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
Corkonomics
LearnGrapesRegionsWinesNews
Wine basicsThe five types of wineHow to taste wineHow to read a wine labelWine with foodWine words
Learn the economicsThe economics of wine productionThe economics of wine collectingCourses
Regions
BordeauxBurgundyChampagneRhôneNapa ValleyTuscanyPiedmontMoselOregonRiojaCalifornia sparklingValais and LavauxEnglandDouroEtnaMendozaMarlboroughStellenboschBarossa ValleyTasmaniaBeaujolaisJuraAlsaceLoireProvenceRibera del DueroSonoma
What land costsGood years and badAppellationsFamous vineyards
Wines
Famous winesWho makes themFind a vintageCompare wines
PricesWhat a bottle costs to makeWhat vineyard land costsWhat grapes fetchWhat the border addsWhy wine costs what it doesRelease pricesAuction resultsTariffsMarket overviewWine in official statisticsVineyard economicsResearch
MoreAsk the DataAI agentsSavedAPIAbout usMethodologyContact
Dark mode
Language
Currency
Settings
Dark mode
Language
Currency

New to wine? Start with the short lessons, then look up any word you do not know.

Learn · Wine words · Your saved pages

Château Lafite Rothschild 2021

2021 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

Frost, mildew and a cool summer; variable quality and small crops. 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
Price when new
≈$526−1.1% on the 2020
Last sold at auction for
≈$413a bottle · Christie's, Oct 2025
How hard to find
Still around5 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

One sale of standard bottles is on record: ≈$413 a bottle in October 2025.

Every sale on record1 lots, each linked to the auction house
Sale dateHouse and saleFormatLot pricePer bottle
Oct 2025Christie'sAn Impeccable Private Collection Purchased on Release (sale 23894) · London · lot 2866 × 75 cl≈$2,480≈$413
 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

2021 at the neighbours

What similar wines nearby asked for the same year. Tap one to read about it.

Compare side by side

More about the yearThe harvest, the blend and the first price
Release date
7 June 2022
Price when new
≈$526'released at €470 per bottle ex-Bordeaux this morning (7 June)', citing Liv-ex. Wine Spectator's 2021 campaign article printed €410; the Decanter figure is consistent with the 23% rise to €580 reported for the 2022 releaseDecanter, 2022-06-07
First US shop price
$613 in 2022Wine Spectator, 2022-05-20
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