Christophe Salin's world is at Lafite
Christophe Salin lives by the French expression: someone who loves wine cannot be a bad person.
Friendly and down-to-earth, he epitomises all that is good about the wine industry. He is president of the prestigious Domaines Baron de Rothschild, overseeing the aristocratic Chateau Lafite and numerous vineyards worldwide.
'We own and manage all our vineyards which makes it possible to maintain our high standards.' His father and grandfather both owned a champagne business and, born on a vineyard in Epernay, Christophe was destined to end up in the business.
Thirteen years ago he received a call from his friend, Baron Eric de Rothschild, asking him to join his company, and he did.
With only 16,000 cases of Chateau Lafite produced each year, it is no wonder that the bordeaux is highly sought after.
'The most expensive bottle of Lafite was sold for GBP120,000 (HK$1.53 million) to [publishing tycoon] Malcolm Forbes,' says Christophe. He believes the Chateau Lafite 1993 was an undervalued vintage and advises collectors to stock up.
He says, however, that he also likes to drink single malt whisky when he is in a bad mood, which he hastens to add, is not often.
