Will Lafite Rothschild remain popular in China?
Is the Chinese thirst for chateau Lafite Rothschild a passing trend or something more permanent?
In an article for MarketWatch, Andy Xie suggested the phenomenal popularity of Lafite in China's burgeoning fine wine culture is certainly more than just a fad, although nobody is quite sure why.
Some have suggested it could be as simple as the fact that the word "Lafite" translates pleasantly into the Chinese language.
Whether or not this is true, chateau Lafite-Rothschild has appreciated by 550 per cent in sterling over the last five years, largely driven by its enduring popularity in China.
Mr Xie suggested that other first growths like chateaux Mouton Rothschild and Latour could be set to get the Lafite treatment, as China's wine culture matures and becomes more sophisticated in the future.
The Chinese Bordeaux Guide recently celebrated its tenth anniversary by naming Lafite Rothschild consultant Jacques Boissenot its Winemaker of the Decade.