Baron Guy de Rothschild, a lifelong banker linked to Bordeaux chateaux Lafite and Mouton Rothschild, died in Paris on Tuesday.

Born in Paris in 1909, Guy de Rothschild was the son of Baron Edouard de Rothschild.

Guy’s great-grandfather James bought Lafite in 1868. He established the family’s French branch but soon after the purchase of the chateau he died, leaving it to his three sons.

Guy inherited Lafite in 1946 along with Alain, Elie and Edmond de Rothschild. Elie oversaw the estate’s recovery from the damaging effects of World War II.

In 1974, Baron Eric de Rothschild, Elie’s nephew, became manager of Domaines Barons de Rothschild. He was part of the fifth generation to inherit Lafite, along with Barons David, Edouard, Robert, Nathaniel and Benjamin.

What in 1990 became Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, with multiple holdings, originated in 1853 when Nathaniel, who founded the family’s English branch, bought Chateau Brane-Mouton, renaming it Mouton-Rothschild.

Lafite was often poured at Guy’s country home near Paris, the Château de Ferrieres, and its successor, Hotel Lambert, on the Île St. Louis, in the Seine, where France’s elite were common guests.

Written by Howard G Goldberg in New York

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Howard G Goldberg
Howard G Goldberg
Decanter Magazine, Food & Wine Writer

Howard G Goldberg is a wine writer and critic based in New York City. He made his name writing about wine for The New York Times, where he worked for 34 years. He has written various books on food and wine, including Prime: The Complete Prime Rib Book and All About Wine Cellars. He compiled The New York Times Book of Wine – a collection of the publication’s best wine articles.