Château Lafite Rothschild controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2024
Chinese trademark infringement and unfair-competition dispute
Rothschild entities challenged Chinese companies over the use of Lafite-related Chinese marks and alleged misleading origin information on wine packaging and promotional materials. The Supreme People’s Court reportedly upheld the infringement and unfair-competition findings and compensation of RMB 79.17 million.
2012
Suspected counterfeit Lafite seized in China
Police in Wenzhou seized nearly 10,000 bottles suspected of carrying counterfeit Château Lafite Rothschild labels. Reports also described widespread concerns about imitation Lafite in the Chinese market, although precise estimates of the counterfeit share are uncertain. The exceptional demand and high prices associated with Lafite made the brand a target for counterfeit bottles and fraudulent representations, particularly in Asian markets; the estate responded with authentication technology and legal protection measures.
2012
Counterfeit Lafite bottles and market fraud
The exceptional demand and high prices associated with Lafite made the brand a target for counterfeit bottles and fraudulent representations, particularly in Asian markets. The estate responded with authentication technology and legal protection measures.
1985
Disputed authenticity of a purported 1787 Lafite
A bottle sold as a 1787 Château Lafite and believed at the time to have been associated with Thomas Jefferson achieved an exceptional auction price. The authenticity of the bottle was subsequently challenged, making the episode a prominent example of the risks surrounding rare-wine provenance.