Chateau des Lafite....!

WINE TALK
1

I’m in Shanghai on a business trip, and was taken out to a club. One of our hosts announced that he was opening some “Lafite,” which piqued my interest. When I looked at the bottle I saw that it was “Chateau des Lafite” supposedly from Puisseguin-St. Emilion.

This wine either ends up entirely in China, or is more likely made in China. Check out the one link I found, a Hong Kong distributor that offers these bottles in individual gift boxes!

http://www.a6wine.com/products.php

Some pretty funny stuff on the site if you choose translate from google. This place also offers a few wines under the name “De Elmondo,” also all with Bordeaux on the label (including a chardonnay!)

2

What’s it going for in China?

3

I didn’t see the price but I will ask my host today. The place we drank it was not exactly a discounter.

4

Funny, the label shows the logo for DBR estates (the circle of arrows).

5

Not exactly:

No mention of “Baron” or “Rothschild”.

6

Then that’s a SERIOUS trademark infringement right there Dr. Fartypants…I mean, Smartypants.

7

HMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…

8

Very nice pickup

9

Omigosh, with such a blatant fraud why do you suppose they even bothered keeping the Puisseguin Saint-Emilion appellation?? I can’t imagine this could have been a legal export out of France, with the glaring “Premier Grand Cru Classe” lie.

The whole China Lafite story just keeps getting more and more amazing.

The real question is, did you say anything?

10

The real question is, did you try it? How was it?

11

The wine was drinkable, but I have to say this was at the end of a long night that started with a couple of bottles of Baijiu and lots of toasting. It was consumed in sips during a drinking game with dice, with very loud karaoke surrounding.

I wouldn’t be surprised to find that there’s a lot of real Lafite that goes down the same way.

12

Did it contain lead or do they keep that exclusively for children’s toys?

13

Barefoot Cellars came out with Chateau La Foot many years back. Ch. Lafite sued, and won.

Because…folks didn’t want to confuse the two.

14

Too funny John!

How was Business Class? Nice, eh?.. [cheers.gif]

15

Wait . . . are you guys trying to tell me that trademarks and IP are not respected in China? Are you saying that someone is trying to trade on Lafite’s popularity by purposefully confusing the consumer? Is that what you are alleging?

16

I couldn’t help wondering if those notes were plants. They read like shelf talkers.

And what’s with the Dutch comments?

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Parker called the 05 a “sleeper of the vintage”.

19

Murderous stuff. At least this dude thinks so:

Tasted by Cellar_Fiend on 8/29/2009 & rated 91 points: The colour of this wine is incredible I can taste the rich fruit just by looking at it. Excellent nose of dark berries and cedar. On the palate the wine rolls in the mouth with round tannins after only an hour decant. The Merlot is obvious and delectable. The fruit is incredible and tied with cedar and classic cigar. The finish is at least 15 seconds long.

And I know we have been through the stopwatch finish discussion, but amongst those that value a long finish, when is 15 seconds something to brag about?

20

It is even more complex mixed with Dr. Pepper rather than plain Coke or Pepsi.