CHÂTEAU LAFON ROCHET
2012 4ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe Château Lafon-Rochet
Colour | Red |
Origin | France, Bordeaux |
Sub-district | Haut Médoc |
Village | Saint Estèphe |
Classification | 4ème Cru Classé |
ABV | 14% |
Ripe, ripe fruit on attack, then some gloriously fine tannin. This has an intensity of good extraction and lovely drive. Lovely spice and ripe, dark plumminess. Great effort. L&S (Apr 2013)
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The 2012 Lafon-Rochet is quite high-toned on the nose with black plum, iodine, violet and mint. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and juicy ripe black fruit with a silky texture. It's pretty rich and sweet towards the finish, with veins of blue fruit. The 2012 is showy, sweet and delicious, although it still needs time. Tasted at the Lafon-Rochet vertical at the property. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2023)
The 2012 Lafon-Rochet has an attractive nose with blackberry, wild hedgerow and light graphite scents, gently unfolding in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, good depth and freshness, the oak neatly integrated with a judicious spiciness coming through on the finish. Recommended. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Sep 2022)
The Lafon Rochet 2012 is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot that was picked late from 8th October when they felt that the fruit was completely ripe and finished on the 19th October. Basile told me that 10 hectares are now being farmed biodynamically. It is being matured using 40% one-year old barrels rather than 100% and there is only a tiny amount of vin de presse, something that Jean-Claude Berrouet has advised. It has a lifted bouquet nose of dark plum and blackberry fruit with just a touch of iodine. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm, tannic entry. It is a little pinched at first but unwinds with aeration. There is a good backbone here, though it is not a “weighty” Lafon Rochet. It is nicely balanced with an attractive saline touch on the finish. Somewhat conservative in style and showing a touch of attenuation, but overall this is not bad at all. Fine. Rating: 89-91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2013)
Château Lafon-Rochet
Saint Estèphe Quatrième cru 1855 A somewhat complicated history eventually placed the Rochet vineyard - so named due to its rocky soil - into the hands of the Lafon family in the early years of the 17th Century. The family owned the estate until 1895. It passed through several hands until Guy Tesseron, who's family had prospered in the Cognac business, bought the, now run-down, estate in the 1960's. Guy completely renovated Lafon-Rochet, even to the extent of demolishing all of the delapidated buildings and rebuilding a grand 18th Century style chateau, which was painted yellow to match the labels. Thus Lafon-Rochet are almost unique among Haut-Médoc châteaux in being built in the 20th Century. In the 1960's Château Lafon-Rochet's vineyards consisted of just 15ha of Merlot. Today, there are 41ha under vine, and at a more Médoc-like 54% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Grand Vin spends up to 20 months in wood (50% ish new). Sitting inland from Cos d'Estournel, facing across the Jalle de Brieul at Duhart Milon and Lafite, Lafon-Rochet has some very noble neighbours. The Tesseron family also own Château Pontet-Canet.
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