SEPTEMBER 205 



may produce a first growth wine, and the other side 

 may yield nothing but bourgeois that is. unclassified 

 wine. Thus the world-renowned Chateau Lafite is but 

 a farm of less than 180 acres in extent, yet the grapes 

 grown thereon possess such an exquisite virtue that in 

 1868 the Rothschilds purchased it for 180,000 more 

 than 1000 an acre. Ten years later, when claret 

 was at the height of favour in England, the average 

 annual production at Chateau Lafite was estimated at 

 seven hundred and twenty hogsheads, worth, in a good 

 year, about 47,200. Reckoning three-fourths of these 

 gross receipts as absorbed by wages, renewal of stock, 

 repairs, and other expenses, there remained a balance of 

 12,000 to meet interest on the purchase money at 

 four per cent., equal to 7200, and 4800 clear profit 

 besides. Here was a net return of 70, 12s. per acre. 

 Probably no other agricultural land in the world could 

 show financial results equal to those obtained from the 

 estate of Chateau Lafite and the three other 'first 

 growth ' vineyards of the Chateaux Latour, Margaux, 

 and Haut-Brion. 



Most of the chateaux have their names proudly 

 carved on arched gateways abutting on the high road. 

 Travelling north by motor from Bordeaux, through the 

 Commune of Margaux, into that of Saint Julien, one 

 reads many an inscription familiar enough in wine 

 merchants' lists. Chateau Beycheville recalls the 

 days of le Roi Soleil, for it belonged of old to the Due 

 d'Epernon, who, as Lord High Admiral of France, 

 claimed a salute from every vessel passing up or 

 down the Gironde, which salute was performed by 



